ARF launches protest in Yerevan

Published: Tuesday September 22, 2009

ARF members in Yerevan protest the concessions agreed to by the Armenian government in the protocols on the establishment of bilateral relations with Turkey. Hayk Badalyan / Photolure

Yerevan - The Supreme Council of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation launched a month-long protest on September 15 against the concessions agreed to by the Armenian government in the protocols on the development of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

The ARF's protest involves a rotating 48-hour hunger strike in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a sit-in in front of the government building, both in Republic Square. The party is also collecting signatures for a petition against the protocols and has stated that it will continue with its protest until amendments are made to the protocols. A list of proposed amendments has been published by the party and is being circulated.

The party is criticizing two key points in the agreement. The first is the point "Confirming the mutual recognition of the existing border between the two countries as defined by the relevant treaties of international law." The party contends that the provision is unnecessary and forecloses the possibility of raising legitimate claims in the future.

The second is the establishment of an intergovernmental commission whose task will be to "implement a dialogue on the historical dimension with the aim to restore mutual confidence between the two nations, including an impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations." The party argues that the establishment of such a commission would cast doubt on the veracity of the Genocide and postpone acknowledgement of the Genocide by various countries.