PROTOCOLS SENSITIVE ISSUE FOR ARMENIAN NATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.01.2010 12:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A public hearing on the protocols on normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations would be advisable, according to ARF
Dashnaktsutyun representative Armen Rustamyan.
"Unfortunately, the RA Constitutional Court is entitled to consider
cases submitted in written form only. Anyway, we issued a juridical
conclusion on the documents and do believe that it will be taken
into account during the secret discussion of the CC members," he
said. "I’m hopeful that the CC will reach a decision not conflicting
with Armenia’s national interests."
The protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the common border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich
by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish
counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of
diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is an Armenian
political party founded in Tiflis (Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia)
in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian
The ARF has the largest number of members from the political parties
present in the Armenian Diaspora, having established affiliates in
more than 200 countries.
The ARF Dashnaktsutyun led the effort toward the establishment of
the first Armenian Republic in 1918 and was the party in power for
the duration of its existence. Following the Sovietization of Armenia
in 1920, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its
leadership exiled.
In the Diaspora, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun fought Soviet rule over
Armenia and championed the cause of Armenian rights and independence;
it played a leading role in organizing a social and cultural framework
aimed at preserving the Armenian identity.
The ARF Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia during the
dissolution of the USSR, in 1990.
On December 28, 1994, the activities of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun were
"temporarily suspended" by the Armenian authorities. In view of
the political nature of the anti-ARF interdictions by the Armenian
authorities, the ARF continued to operate in Armenia. On February 9,
1998, less than a week after the resignation of the then president
Ter-Petrossian, the Justice Ministry lifted the ban on the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun.