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 TORONTO—More
than 400 members of the Toronto Armenian community gathered at
the Armenian Community Centre on Friday, September 4 to learn
more about the recently negotiated protocols for the
normalization of relations between the Republics of Turkey and
Armenia and to protect the rights of the Armenian people. The
public gathering was jointly organized by the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation “Soghomon Tehlirian” chapter, the
Social Democrat Hunchak Party Canadian Regional Executive and
the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar) Canadian
Regional Executive.
The gathering featured a
video presentation of ARF Bureau member Hagop Der
Khatchadourian, who provided background on the protocols,
expected future developments and the risks involved in the
ratification of the protocols. Following the video
presentation, the evening’s Master of Ceremonies Hagop
Tchakmakian introduced Levon Hasserjian, who spoke about the
threats posed by the protocols to the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide, the rights of future generations of
Armenians and the continued existence of the Nagarno-Karabakh
Republic and it’s people’s right of self determination.
Following Hasserjian’s
presentation, the floor was opened to questions. The questions
and comments were generally reflective of the genuine worry of
Toronto Armenians about the policies of the current Armenian
administration in pursuing relations with the Republic of Turkey
and the price that the Armenian people would pay for these
decisions.
In order to ensure that
the concerns of Toronto Armenians were presented to the Armenian
authorities, it was decided that a formal protest declaration
should be prepared by the attendees of the gathering and
formally presented to the government of Armenia. After much
discussion, the attendees agreed on the following declaration:
“Provisions in the
Protocols indicate preconditions set forth by Turkey and
conflict with the interests of Armenia and Armenians on the
whole. The project obviously tends to prevent the restoration
of historical rights and rupture Armenians. Ratification of the
Protocols by the countries’ parliaments will be a deterrent for
Armenians to claim their ancestral land as well as recognition
of the Armenian Genocide (at that all achievements on the
international level will be jeopardized). In addition, the
possibilities of Armenia to negotiate on Karabakh peace process
will be limited.
This project arising out
of its authors’ interests is full of dangerous consequences for
the centuries-long struggle of Armenians for independence. We,
participants of the meeting call Armenian Authorities, National
Assembly and Armenian nation to reject the project will all
preconditions and pursue the policy of preconditions’ exclusion
in normalization of bilateral relations.”
The attendees also
promised to keep abreast of further developments regarding the
protocols and to stand firm against any attempts by the
government of Armenia to imperil the future of the Armenian
people.
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