PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
461 Bergen Boulevard
Ridgefield, NJ 07657
Tel: 201-945-0011
Fax: 201-945-8992
E-mail: intsec@arf.am

ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION-DASHNAKTSUTYUN
DECLARATION

The protocols on establishing relations between the Republic of
Armenia and the Republic of Turkey were signed on October 10.

On this occasion, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation declares:

a) Consultations, which took place over the last several weeks after
the protocols were made public, although not always under free and
transparent conditions, proved that there are serious concerns and
great counteraction regarding these documents; that the homeland and
the Diaspora have the same approach to fundamental issues concerning
all Armenians. It was made clear that the struggle for the Armenian
Cause is simultaneously a struggle for the fate and development of our
independent statehood.

b) The consultations proved that the protocols and the process include
provisions satisfying the three fundamental preconditions which Turkey
has put forth since the first days of the independence of the Republic
of Armenia. It also became apparent that the same concerns existed in
those Armenian circles who were defending the Armenian President’s
policy.

c) These concerns were finally clearly expressed by the President of
the Republic of Armenia in his address to the Armenian people on
October 10.  The President of Armenia disclosed the existence of those
very same dangers and preconditions that the Dashnaktsutyun had
expressed. In particular, the President of the Republic of Armenia
affirmed that:

1. Any kind of relations with Turkey cannot put into question the
veracity of the Armenian Genocide and the fact that the Armenian
people have been dispossessed of their homeland.
2. There exists a border issue between Armenia and Turkey.
3. The signed documents cannot in any way be related to the resolution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

We are convinced that had the president expressed these positions
earlier, it could have steered the consultations correctly and could
have resulted in the refusal to sign the protocols. At any rate, this
position must guide all the representatives of the Armenian
authorities, as well as those who defended the now-signed protocols.

d) Turkey’s unconstructive position during the signing ceremonies of
the protocols is an  eloquent testament that Turkey is realizing the
process in favor of accomplishing its own preconditions, which was
sufficient foundation for Armenia to refuse to sign. The scandal that
occurred during the signing ceremony is a testament to the failure of
our diplomacy in Armenia-Turkey negotiations. The presence of the
foreign ministers of the United States, the Russian Federation,
France, the European Union and Switzerland and the efforts to ensure
the signing of the protocols at any cost is in fact pressure being
brought to bear, especially on the Republic of Armenia. We are
convinced, that Armenia should not have succumbed to those pressures.
It is equally unacceptable for the world’s power centers to exert
pressure on small nations, through political, economical or other
means.

e) We are entering a new stage of the struggle following the signing
of the protocols. The new announcements being made from Turkey are a
testament to that country’s objective, which is to weaken Armenia and
the Armenians and to enforce new concessions.

Under these conditions it is necessary, through all possible means to
prevent the ratification of the protocols which are a blow to the
interests of our state and nation. That objective demands the widening
and deepening of our pan-Armenian unity; not to open the door to any
expression of national discord and to be prepared to endure
potentially dangerous new developments that await pan-national issues.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is steadfast in its struggle to
ensure the failure of the ratification of the protocols. For that
objective, the Dashnaktsutyun will use all political and
constitutional means all the way to regime change, if necessary.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is appealing to the all
Armenians to arm themselves with confidence and resolve. We are
compelled to prevent the ratification of the protocols with our
combined powers and by doing so to neutralize the real dangers
threatening Armenia and the Armenians, in the name of the Republic of
Armenia, liberated Artsakh, the unity of our people and the right of
our generations to live in dignity in the world.

ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION
12 October 2009
Yerevan