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 New
York, NY – Over 800 people turned out for the Protest for
Justice organized by the Armenian Youth Federation – YOARF
Eastern Region USA on Saturday, September 19 in front of
Armenia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Displaying Armenian flags
and signs protesting the announced protocols for diplomatic
relations between Turkey and Armenia, the crowd chanted slogans
in support of the independence of Artsakh , recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by Turkey and demanding reparations and
restitution of land. Justice Not Protocols was the resounding
message.
“We came in the name of
Justice. The protocols ask Armenia and the Armenian Nation to
give up on what is rightfully theirs; what was taken away from
them during the Genocide. These protocols are not only a step
backwards for the Armenian Nation but also sets a dangerous
precedent at the international stage,” said Lauren DaSilva,
AYF-YOARF Eastern USA Central Executive Chairwoman.
The protocols are just the
latest manifestation of a continued Turkish genocidal policy
towards the Armenian Nation. It is obvious that Turkey, which
imposes an illegal blockade and whose geographic existence and
economic prosperity were founded up the losses of Armenians, is
using its advantage to convince the Armenian state to concede
any possibility of restorative justice.
These concessions span
beyond the authority of the Armenian government. They have no
legitimate right to speak on behalf of the eight million
diasporan Armenians. Worse, discussions on normalization were
held secretly, in the dark, with no participation from the
citizens of Armenia. Furthermore, unlike Armenia’s concessions,
Turkey’s “concessions” are deferred, reversible, vaguely worded.
“I am absolutely disgusted
with the foreign policy of the Sargsyan-Nalbandian regime,” Said
Hrag Arakelian, Chicago Ararat Chapter Executive Member. “They
have either sold out on the Armenian Cause for their own
personal self interest or are just incapable of making sound
policy decisions,” continued Arakelian.
Coming from as far away as
Racine and Chicago, people of all ages boarded buses early in
the morning from Boston, Providence, Worcester, Philadelphia and
Washington, DC to participate.
The protest began with the
singing of Mer Hairenik by Nina Froundjian. Dikran Khaligian led
a program which included speeches by Lauren Da Silva on behalf
of the Central Executive of the AYF, Antranig Kasbarian and
George Aghjayan on behalf of Central Committee of the eastern
USA Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Mourad Topalian, Levon
Attarian, Hovig Charchaflian and Hrag Arakelian.
The rally ended with the
symbolic presentation of a letter to the Armenian mission from
the AYF on behalf of Protest for Justice (see below for text).
For more information
visit:
justicenotprotocols.com.
Letter to
Armenia’s Ambassador to the UN
Ambassador Garen Nazarian
Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations 119 East 36th
Street New York, NY 10016
We have come here today,
from Massachusetts to Florida, from Chicago to Philadelphia, to
demand justice.
For centuries, Armenian
people have lived in servitude to Turkey. However, the
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia must be
based on equality, not capitulation.
The independence of
Artsakh must be guaranteed. The Armenian genocide must be
accepted by the Turkish government as a crime against humanity
with justice requiring reparations and the restitution of land.
These demands are
non-negotiable.
The announced protocols
aim to extinguish the rights of Armenians everywhere. We find
this unacceptable. In the name of our ancestors who sacrificed
so much and generations yet to come, we demand Justice Not
Protocols.
AYF Protest for Justice
September 19, 2009
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