Chicago ARF, AGBU Panelists Spark Discussion on Protocols
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December 1, 2009
By Alidz Oshagan
CHICAGO, Ill. – On Sat., Nov. 21, members of the ARF Chicago
`Christapor’ Gomideh and members of the AGBU of Chicago gathered at
the AGBU Onnig Norehad Center and presented a joint program discussing
the diplomatic protocols recently signed by the governments of Armenia
and Turkey. The three guest speakers discussing how they believe the
protocols will affect Armenia were Ken Hachikian, the chairman of the
Board of Directors of the ANCA; Oscar Tatosian, the chairman of the
Diocesan Council; and Dr. Henry Theriault, a professor of philosophy
at Worcester State College.
The ARF Chicago `Christapor’ Gomideh chairman, Unger Greg Bedian,
described the event as a way to `bring together Chicago Armenians with
different ideas about what the protocols mean, and to have an exchange
of ideas about how the protocols impact us.’
Each of the panelists spoke for 20 minutes about how the protocols
could impact Armenia and its diaspora. Following the discussion, the
panelists exchanged questions and answers. Afterwards, the audience
asked the panelists questions and made voiced their own opinions about
the protocols.
Theriault, who spoke first, discussed the protocols as finalizing the
last stage of the Armenian Genocide, which is the consolidation of
benefits gained from the denial of the genocide, including erasing the
memory of genocide. Theriault explained that the protocols, especially
the historical commission, effectively allow Turkey to consolidate its
gains from the genocide by seriously questioning the reality of its
existence.
Speaking next, Tatosian argued that Armenia President Serge Sarkisian
was dedicated to the recognition of the genocide and that the
protocols would not derail that mission. Tatosian also reassured
audience members that Sarkisian would not allow the stipulations in
the protocols over maintaining `territorial integrity’ to cause any
part of Karabagh to be taken by Azerbaijan.
Finally, Hachikian spoke, saying that the protocols involved too much
sacrifice on the part of Armenia. `I agree that the borders should be
open, but at what cost?’ Hachikian said. `The sacrifices we must make
due to these protocols are just too big.’
During the question and answer session, Detroit AYF-YOARF Chapter
member Nieri Avanessian asked whether aid to Armenia from the U.S.
government would increase in the year following the signing of the
protocols. Hachikian responded that foreign aid would probably not
increase, adding that it had decreased in the past year and that there
was no indication it would increase in the years to come.
Following the short question and answer session, during which AGBU and
ARF members also participated, AYF members from Wisconsin, Michigan,
and Illinois urged attendees to sign ANCA Action Alerts and encourage
their senators to support the Armenian Genocide Resolution, S.Res.316.