RUSTAMYAN’S EAST COAST TOUR: A DETAILED REPORT
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December 17, 2009
WATERTOWN
Armen Rustamyan, member of Armenia’s National Assembly, concluded
his East Coast visit on Dec. 13, following a guest appearance at the
New York ARF’s program marking the party’s 119th anniversary. During
his Dec. 9-13 visit, Rustamyan met with Congressional and other
US representatives and spoke at several Armenian community events
organized by the ARF in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Providence,
Watertown, New Jersey, and New York.
Armen Rustamyan with Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) During his six-city
tour, Rustamyan spread the ARF’s unwavering message of opposition
to the controversial Armenia-Turkey protocols, which were signed by
Armenia’s and Turkey’s respective foreign ministers in October.
Rustamyan, who is chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on
Foreign Relations, also serves as Representative of the ARF Supreme
Body in Armenia. Throughout his visit, he explained the ARF’s current
strategy to derail the protocols and warned that the party will press
for regime change in Armenia if the protocols’ constitutionality is
approved by Armenia’s Constitutional Court in January, and if the
National Assembly subsequently ratifies the document. A report of
his community visits follows.
Washington, D.C.
Rustamyan’s first community event was held Dec. 9 when the ARF
of Greater Washington invited representatives of its affiliated
organizations, ARF members and supporters to a community talk on
the protocols.
Rustamyan with Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) Rustamyan shared
details of his visits earlier that day with various Congressional
and Administration officials. Rustamyan emphasized the ARF’s view
that Armenia’s rapprochement with Turkey should have begun with
the customary establishment of diplomatic relations and Turkey’s
opening of its border with Armenia, followed by additional steps
following those initial moves. Rustamyan told members of Congress
and State Department officials that the ARF favored open relations
with Turkey, but opposed the heavy price preconditions would cost
Armenia in exchange for an open border. Rustamyan strongly condemned
the current protocols as dangerous to Armenia, noting as an example
Turkey’s current push to resolve the Karabagh issue in Azerbaijan’s
favor under cover of the protocols.
Philadelphia
Rustamyan spoke at a community reception on the evening of Dec. 10
organized by the Philadelphia ARF. Rustamyan discussed current events
in Armenia, providing his personal perspective as a deputy in Armenia’s
National Assembly and the role of the ARF as the voice of opposition
in Armenia.
Rustamyan focused on the importance of the anti-protocols
demonstrations throughout the Diaspora and in Armenia, noting
that these protests were so successful that President Sarkisyan was
compelled to respond to protesters just prior to the Oct. 10 signing of
the protocols, claiming that the protocols did not endanger Armenian
Genocide recognition, reparations, or the self-determination rights
of Karabagh’s people.
Providence
Rustamyan arrived in Providence the following day, Friday, Dec. 11. He
was greeted by members of the Providence ARF and escorted to Providence
City Hall by a police motorcade. Providence Mayor David Cicilline
welcomed Rustamyan to his chambers where Rustamyan was presented with a
key to the city. During his meeting with Rustamyan, Cicilline noted his
long-standing, close relationship with the Providence Armenian-American
community and his recognition of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
Rustamyan with local ARF members at the Armenian Genocide Monument
in Providence.
Also present to greet Rustamyan at Providence City Hall were a
representative of the R.I. Jewish Federation and the Counsel General
of Guatemala, along with other foreign Latino dignitaries. The
representatives acknowledged the rich culture and history of the
Armenian people and related their support for the self-determination
of the people of Karabagh.
After the Providence City Hall ceremonies and meetings, Rustamyan was
taken to the Rhode Island State House where he met with Rhode Island
Secretary of State Ralph Mollis and State Treasurer Frank Caprio.
Rustamyan was also presented with a citation from the Rhode Island
House of Representatives sponsored by Speaker of the House William
Murphy, House Majority Leader Gordon Fox and House Minority Leader
Robert Watson.
Rustamyan also visited Providence’s North Burial Ground, location of
the community’s 1915 Armenian Genocide monument and memorial. The
visit was solemn and Rustamyan learned of the monument’s history
and background.
Rustamyan’s Providence visit concluded with a lunch with Providence
ARF members and Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch. Rustamyan
proceeded to Watertown, MA, after lunch where he was scheduled to
speak at a public meeting at the Armenian Cultural and Educational
Center sponsored by the ARF of Greater Boston.
Watertown
In Watertown, Rustamyan gave a wide-ranging interview to Hairenik
Weekly editor Zaven Torikian. He also met with the ARS Central
Executive Board, whose members were meeting at the Hairenik Building.
Rustamyan speaking in Watertown.
On the evening of Dec. 11, over 200 people attended the Boston
ARF’s public meeting where Rustamyan discussed the meaning of the
Armenia-Turkey protocols and the ARF’s plan of action to derail
their passage.
Rustamyan explained the most contentious sections of the protocols:
the formation of an historical commission to study and examine
outstanding issues, presumably including the 1915 Armenian Genocide;
the precondition of recognizing the Armenia-Turkey border established
by the illegitimate Kars Treaty; and the precondition of returning
Karabagh to Azerbaijan by requiring Armenia to recognize the
territorial integrity of neighboring countries, thereby abandoning
the self-determination rights of Karabagh’s people..
Rustamyan emphasized that the Government of Armenia’s repeated claims
that the protocols contain no preconditions are easily disproved by
the protocols’ text, as well as the open and repeated admissions by
Turkey’s official representatives.
He also discussed the Armenian government’s miscalculation over the
public reaction that the Protocols would receive. Armenian government
officials were not prepared for the assault of protest from Armenians
living inside and outside of Armenia in opposition to the concessions
Armenia would have to make in exchange for an open Armenia-Turkey
border.
With regard to the ARF’s plan to derail the protocols’ passage,
Rustamyan explained that the ARF’s strategy attacks the protocols
at every stage of the ratification process. He explained that the
first stage centered on the protocols’ pre-signing period. The
ARF rallied its members and supporters around the world and led
the protest movement against the protocols to pressure Armenian
government representatives not to sign the protocols on Oct. 10. When
the protocols were signed, the second stage of the ARF’s campaign has
begun with the Armenian Constitutional Court’s review of the protocols
for conflicts with Armenia’s Constitution. The ARF is focused on this
stage now and is making legal arguments to demonstrate the protocols’
unconstitutionality. A court decision is expected in January. If the
Constitutional Court deems the protocols constitutional, the ARF’s
focus will shift to a third stage, centering on the Armenian National
Assembly’s vote on the protocols. The ARF will push a majority of
National Assem bly members to vote "no" on the protocols. If Armenia’s
parliament passes the protocols, the ARF will enter the fourth stage
of its strategy: calling for regime change in Armenia.
New Jersey
On Dec. 12, Rustamyan paid a courtesy call to the Armenian Prelacy
in New York, where he met Prelate Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and
the Prelacy Executive Council. That evening, Rustamyan was guest of
honor at ah ARF New Jersey gathering at the home of Raffi and Mari
Keshishian. On the morning of Dec. 13, the New Jersey ARF hosted a
community brunch in Rustamyan’s honor.
New York
On Sunday evening, Dec. 19, Armen Rustamyan was the main speaker at
the New York ARF’s celebration of the party’s 119th anniversary, held
at the Armenian community center in Woodside. In a 40-minute address,
Rustamyan again reviewed his US itinerary, focusing on insights
derived from his discussions with US Administration officials. He also
reviewed the larger struggle now underway regarding the Protocols’
ratification inside Armenia, as well as the ongoing process between
Armenia and Turkey.
The program also included a written message from Armenia’s Permanent
Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Karen Nazarian,
which was read to the audience by MC Ara Caprielian. Offering words
of congratulation, the Ambassador commended the ARF for waging many
difficult struggles on behalf of Armenian rights throughout its
history. He then made clear reference to Armeno-Turkish relations,
emphasizing the need to continue a demanding posture, both inside
and outside Armenia. The Ambassador’s remarks were enthusiastically
received by the audience of over 150.
The program also featured moving closing remarks by His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Archbishop Choloyan linked the ARF’s identity to the cause of justice
on a wide range of issues, going well beyond the current protocols
and encompassing the critical junctures of modern Armenian history.
Armen Rustamyan’s New York address will appear in its entirety in
next week’s Weekly.