On the morning of Wednesday, September 6, at the official invitation of the Republic of Armenia’s Consulate in Los Angeles, addressed to the ARF Western U.S.A. Central Committee and its sister organizations, representatives of the ARF and its sister organizations met with the newly appointed Consul General Dr. Karen Israyelyan and his consular staff. The guest delegation was headed by ARF Western U.S.A. Central Committee Chairman Daron Der-Khachadourian and member Harmik Baghdasarian and was comprised of Vicky Marashlian, Nazeli Khodabakhsh, Steve Dadaian, Lucy Petrosian and Baruyr Hagopian. Mrs. Nazeli Hambardzumian participated on behalf of the consular staff.
The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), protesting the anti-national policy adopted by the government of Republic of Armenia, decided to abstain from the meeting and shared its concerns in writing with the newly appointed Consul General in a letter delivered by the representative of the ARF Western U.S.A. Central Committee.
After mutual introductions and a comprehensive presentation of the work of each organization, the conversation expanded to the anti-national and nation-damaging activities adopted by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as well as Azerbaijan’s destructive and genocidal policy, the crisis of Artsakh’s Armenians, the ban on the entry of many Diaspora Armenians to Armenia, the squandering of our forces, the Diaspora Commissioner’s divisive actions weakening Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora ties, and other issues of concern to the Armenian community.
Consul General Israyelyan, having served for more than twenty years as part of the Republic of Armenia’s Diplomatic Staff in important countries of the Diaspora, and being well-acquainted with the ARF’s mission and organization, in light of the prevailing crises, wished everyone success in their efforts in the service of the homeland and the Armenian people. Emphasis was placed on making the most of the potential of the Diaspora, making Diaspora-Armenia relations useful and purposeful, and reaffirming the rights of the long-suffering Armenian people.
The delegation wished success to the newly appointed Dr. Israyelyan, in his diplomatic services to the Armenian people in this heavily Armenian populated state, for the good of the Armenian nation. An official memorandum was also handed over to the consul by the Central Committee.
Memorandum
To The Republic of Armenia Consul General in Los Angeles,
Dear Dr. Karen Israyelyan,
Strongly condemning the illegal closure of the Berdzor Corridor and the inhumane blockade of Artsakh by the enemy Azerbaijan, in the name of the Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western USA, we would like to bring the following points to your attention:
On May 22 of this year, the Republic of Armenia’s Prime Minister recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan in his statement. This is not only unacceptable for us and the entire Armenian people, but it is also the main reason why Artsakh is currently under siege.
Considering that:
A) Artsakh expressed its will for self-determination legally and declared its independence in accordance with the laws of the Soviet Union and the international norms concerning the right to self-determination of peoples.
B) The self-determination of Artsakh, both legally and politically, is consistent with the strategic mission of a just solution to the Armenian-Turkish conflict and is a part of that larger context.
C) Armenian diplomacy, especially in the years 1998-2018, succeeded in establishing several important principles in international arenas: First, the preclusion of the option of solving the Artsakh issue by force. Second, the inviolability of Artsakh’s right to self-determination, which, again with the approval of the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group, would not contradict the principle of territorial integrity of the countries negotiating the conflict.
The current government of the Republic of Armenia has no mandate to abandon the above-mentioned principles, therefore, its steps in that direction contradict the interests of our state and nation.
This government has failed in its mission of guaranteeing the country’s national security and protecting the supreme interests of the state and the nation. Even after the 44-day war, this government did not try to restore Armenia’s political, diplomatic and military capabilities. On the contrary, it constantly proceeded in the opposite direction of dismantling and weakening the main state structures. The authorities have not only failed, but are also deliberately trying to divide the united national spirit, starting from Armenia and Artsakh, reaching the Diaspora.
We are also witnessing the manifestation of the same divisive politics at the level of the Diaspora, when the consulates under the direction of the Commissioner of the Diaspora strongly meddle in the internal affairs of traditional parties and in fact encourage separatist groups comprised of a few, to the detriment of the All-Armenian structures of the same organizations. And banning the entry into Armenia of youth and party figures fighting for the rights of Artsakh and Armenia is an unprecedented step, compared to years of Bolshevik rule.
This government deceived the Armenian people with false promises to “de-occupy” the territories of Artsakh occupied due to the war and was re-elected, and today it is trying to legitimize the ambitions of the enemy Azerbaijan towards the Republic of Artsakh.
It is unacceptable that the Civil Contract party and its leader, the prime minister, are clinging to power with the obvious behavior of keeping it at all costs, ignoring Armenia’s national interests, ignoring the dangers of losing statehood.
Therefore, the person occupying the position of the Republic of Armenia’s Prime Minister should resign IMMEDIATELY, so that the Armenian people can form a new government that can, first and foremost, serve the national interests of the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh and all Armenians, and secondly, to save the statehood from the obvious dangers of destruction. We will be unwavering and continue to struggle for these two points.
ARF Western United States of America Central Committee
September 6, 2023
Glendale
