Յայտարարութիւն Արեւմտահայոց 3-րդ Համագումարի

21 comments

1. To Succeed

   The idea is correct on material loss recuperation, but politically must be coordinated with existing bodies to not jeopardize efforts with new propositions without consultations. Additionally, technical and material organization must complement political efforts with harmony to be successful. Y. Charents then will be fully satisfied from heaven.

   1. Hay Tad

      Gedtzess Souren, miayn lav aghpure senvadz medahok haye ayskan hesdag ou chidag gue dessne  noradzin marminnerou…. imasde  "Hay Tadi" loudzoum kednelou oughoutiamp. Gue gissem kou getzvatzked yev muss "lavadessneroun" negadmamp, essenk "hassketsoghin shad parev".

2. Western Armenian Congress

   The 800-lbs. gorilla in the room is the ARF and to a lesser extent the other political parties and organizations. They will see the Congress as a rival, although they haven’t done much in recent years to advance our overall cause. Once the Congress attracts a significant number of Armenians and begins to show results, the ARF and other Armenian political parties in the Diaspora might see the light and join forces with the non-partisan, non-ideological Congress.

   The ARF and the other political parties, like the Church, have done reasonably good work to preserve the Armenian identity (Hayabahbanoom) since 1915. However, the Diaspora needs to open a new chapter… the chapter that the Congress seems to be interested in.

   If we don’t move forward, our current Diaspora communities will shrink and die. It’s no secret that the revitalization of the North American Armenian community was a result of unrest in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon which brought a new wave of immigrants to North America. We can’t forever depend on Middle Eastern "new blood" to help them survive.

   The ARF and the other parties have been at a standstill for a a long time, other than make representations to the US Congress. Unfortunately, the US’s priorities are on the side of Turkey and not Armenia, let alone the Armenian Diaspora. Some righteous American politicians or politicians with significant Armenian voters would side with us, but these efforts will not impact US foreign policy. Willy-nilly, Moscow is our natural ally. Even if Russia abandons us, the US will not fill the void to protect us from Turkey. It’s time we stopped begging the US for money, for diplomatic support. The latest US demand that Turkey return Church properties to Christians is appreciated but does not mean the return of Western Armenia to Armenia–our ultimate goal. Without Western Armenia, Armenia will not survive or at least be a viable country. We will continue to be the sick man of the Caucasus.

   The Genocide recognition battle is over. We have gained recognition of the Genocide from all countries that could possibly support us. We don’t need more jurisdictions to recognize the Genocide. We need a new game plan. ARF etc. are bankrupt when it comes to new strategies. The Western Armenian Congress is probably the way to go. Now, if the Southern California group (Sasoonian and Co.) align with the Congress, we will have something to root for.

   1.  Vahakn hits the nail on the

       Vahakn hits the nail on the head.

       

   2. Right on the money! However,

      Right on the money! However, Might is Right! The Congress should change its name to encompass all Historic Armenia, not only Western. We all are Armenians. We all must look out for All Armenia!

      1. Western Armenian Congress

         Dear Papken,

         Because of the political situation (blockade by Turkey), the Repubic of Armenia has decided to stay out of this endevour/representation. It doesn’t want to provide Ankara with an excuse to exacerbate the situation. There’s also the view–again regarding this particular cause–that Western Armenians should be represented by a Western Armenian organization. After all, they are the descendants of the martyrs of the Genocide. I woud like to point out that while many of the charter members of the Western Armenian Congress come from Armenia or Russia, they are the descendants of the survivors of the Genocide (1915-1923).

         1. Dear Vahakn: I think you missed my point

            Dear Vahakn: I think you missed my point. I understant the basis of the Republic of Armenia, although I do not agree with its policy toward Turkey. My point is that the Congress should invite all armenians to pursue its goals. All of us have interest in the outcome and all of us are responsible to participate regardless our place of birth. The world, especially Turks must have the impression that we would unite to take on any issue which has to do with any Armenian around the world.

            1. Western/Eastern

               Dear Papken,

               You might have a point. I’m sure Congress organizers thought deep and hard before deciding on their aspirational mandate and constituency. I would like to hear from the Congress as to their decision to represent solely Western Armenians. Incidentally, I would like to know what do we mean by "historic Armenia." What does it encompass? Of course, when we make a claim to a territory we should be able to prove that it rightfully, legally belongs to us.

3. Արեւմտահայոց Երրորդ Համագումար

    "Հայրենակցական" միութիւններով բաւարարուած, ու տեղայնական յաջողութիւններով ալ յղփացած սփիւռքը, վերջապէս զարթնած է իր թմբիրէն, անդրադառնալով Հայութեան երկնակամարին կուտակուող մռայլ ամպերը եւ անոր հետեւող ճքնաժամային լինե -չլինելու վտանքը …:

   Շնորհաւորելի տիտանային ծրագիր ու աշխատանք, սակայն պէտք է աճապարել ու մասնակից դարձնել ամէն մի սփիւռքահայ:

   Յաջողութեան գերագոյն մաղթանքներով՝

   Ալեքսան Մարտիրոսեան

   Թորորնթոյ, Գանատայ

    

4. Bon Voyage!

   We salute the emergence of the long awaited Congress of Western Armenians! We treat the declaration as a solemn public oath to mobilize Armenians throughout the world towards a sacred goal.

   The presence of high caliber individuals within the leadership, with vast international and national experience and diverse ideological backgrounds inspires confidence that at last Armenians have realized to work together irrespective of their differences.

   The new generation needs hope to rally around a cause beyond the mere recognition of the genocide. The Congress with its clear and simple to comprehend plan of action provides that much needed hope.

   A good start, as the old adage would state, is tantamount to half of the job done. The latter half remains to be accomplished.

   Bon voyage!

    

5. United States’ interests

   The United States full well knows that should Armenia fail, the middle east christians are doomed. We are the lone link of a different persuasion that extends from Afghanistan to the Bosphorus. Just think of the consequences!

6. Some questions

   I am in support of the aims of the Western Armenian Congress, but I have a few questions.

   • First of all, does the Congress have bylaws?
   • Will there be some kind of democratic elections to the initial board down the road?
   • How will the organization function; is there a modus operandi?
   • Is there financial support already planned?
   • Will there be  any progress reports?

   These questions may have been already considered, in which case the response should be easy.

   Thank you. Krikor Soghikian, MD 

   1.  We have bylaws

      Dear Mr. Soghikian,

      We have bylaws and Statutes of the Congress of Western Armenians.

      The congress elected a Council consisting of 28 members.  The democratic base will be expanded during the next two years taking into consideration the special needs and conditions of each community. So far the financial base relied on individual contributions. The establishment of a legal and judiciary trust funds are planned including the organization of fundraising activities for this purpose.

      The modus operandi is reflected in a document called the Action Plan for 2012-2013.

      The Executive Committee of the Council meets regularly. The Council meets or discusses issues through video conferencing once every three months.

      All documents could be made available if you provide your e mail address through [email protected]

      Respectfully,

      Souren Seraydarian

7. Այո, Գնահատելի է

   Գնահատելի է կատարուած փորձը, երկար տարիներէ ի վեր արծարծուած միտք է, բայց կարգ մը հատուածական մտայնութիւններ միշտ խափանած են միասնականութեան ոգին: Անշուշտ այդ գիտակցելով հանդերձ հետեւողականօրէն պէտք է փորձը շարունակել, որովհետեւ Ազգային Գերագոյն Խորհուրդի մը գոյութիւնը արդէն ինքնին մարտավարական անհրաժեշտութիւն մըն է:

   Յաջողութիւն ձեզ:

    

8. Արեւմտահայոց Ազգային Համագումարի ստեղծում

   Զարմանքով կը կարդամ թէ՝ բարի նպատակներով առաջնորդուած հայեր, ստեղցած են մէկ նոր կազմակերպութիւն մը, այս պարագային Արեւմտահայոց Ազգային Համագումար անուան տակ:

   Հարց կուտամ թէ ի՞նչ պէտքը կայ ուրիշ կազմակերպութեան մը ստեղծման, որը իր իսկ յայտարութեամբ կը յայտնէ թէ՝ ան հայ ժողովուրդի քաղաքական նպատակները պիտի հետապնդէ, երբ գոյութիւն ունին հայ քաղաքական կուսակցութիւններ որոնք կը հետապնդէն նոյն նպատակները: Արդեօ՞ք այս նոր կազմակերպութեան ստեղծման նախաձեռնութիւնը հայ ուժերու բաժանում մը չէ:

   Ի՞նչպէս կարելի է Եղիշէ Չարենցի իմաստուն խրատը օգտագործել , («Ով հայ ժողովուրդ քո միակ փրկութիւնը քո հաւաքական ուժի մէջ է») որպէս նշանաբան, երբ նոր կազմակերպութիւնը ստեղծելով, կատարուածը Եղիշէ Չարենցի պատգամը կը հակասէ: Նոր կազմակերպութիւնները որոնք կը փորձեն գործել գոյութիւն ունեցող կազմակերպութիւններու տարածքէն ներս հայ ժողովուրդի միասնականութեան վտանք են:

   Հարց կուտամ թէ ի՞նչու արդեօք նոր կազմակերպութիւն մը ստեղծելու փոխարէն, խոհեմ մարդիկ չեն մասնակցիր եղած քաղաքական կազմակերպութիւններուն, ըլլայ այդ ՀՅԴ.ին, ՌԱԿ.ին, կամ Հնչակեան կուսակցութեան: Արդեօ՞ք այն հայերը որոնք նեցուկ կը կանքնին նոր կազմակերպութեան ստեղծման չեն գիտէր մեր հայ կուսակցութիւններու հետապնդած նպատակները: Եթէ չեն գիտէր, ուրեմն հարկ է որ, նախքան նորը ստեղծեն, ուսումնասիրեն եւ մօտէն ծանօթանան մեր կուսակցութիւններու ծրագիրներուն ու կանոնագիրներուն: Իսկ եթէ գիտեն եւ կը շարունակեն նոր կազմակերպութիւն ստեղծելու ուղիին մէջ, դատապարտելի է իրենց ընթացքը:

   Եւ վերջապէս, եթէ հայեր կան որոնք հարց ունին մեր հայ կուսակցութիւններու քաղաքական մարտավարութեան հետ, եւ ոչ թէ նպատակներուն, այդ պարագային մարտավարութիւն կամ առաջնահերթութիւնները փոխելու ճիշդ ձեւը՝ կուսակցութիւններու շարքերուն անդամակցիլն է: Այլ ձեւ ուժերու բաժանում կը ստեղծէ:

   Իսկ եթէ կան հայեր որոնք քաղաքան կուսակցութիւններու չեն փափաքիր անդամակցիլ, իրենց համար բաց է դուռը մասնակցելու Հայ Դատի Յանձնախումբերու նման կազմակերպութիւններու աշխատանքներուն, որոնք կը գործեն մեր բոլոր գաղութներէն ներս: Հայ Դատի նման կազմակերպութիւնները բոլոր հայորդիներուն կու տան մեծ ազպարեզ նուիրուելու համար մեր իրաւունքներու ձեռքբերման:

   Կը յուսամ ընթերցողը անդրադառնայ որ նոր կազմակերպութիւն ստեղծելով կը բաժնենք հայութեան ուժականութիւնը:

   Չեմ կրնար գիտնալ իմ այս գրութեան ճակատագիրը: Արդեօ՞ք պիտի հրատարակուի: Եթէ լոյս չտեսնէ կը նշանակէ թէ՝ Արեւմտահայոց Ազգային Համագումարը կը հետապնդէ ծածուկ նպատակներ որոնք իր յայտարարած նպատակներէն տարբեր եւ դուրս են: Յուսամ կը սխալիմ:

   1. 90% tchezok minorities 🙂

      Did anyone ask or surveyed what and where that 90 % Armenians belong to? Between Hnchagian and RAG ideologies there are lots of different ones. We all should be open minded.  Are we afraid of asking?       

      Noupar

9. Creation of the Congress of Western Armenians

   I read with surprise that Armenians with good intentions have created a new organisation; in this instance the Congress of Western Armenians.

   I ask why Armenians need a new organisation, which declares it will pursue the political aims of the Armenian people, when there are Armenian political parties which pursue the same aims. Isn’t the initiative to create a new organisation a division of the Armenian forces?

   How is it possible to use Yeghishe Charents’s wise advice “Armenian people, your only redemption are in your collective strength” as its motto, while initiation of this new organisation contradicts with Charents’s message. New organisations that want to act in the space as the existing organisation are a danger to the unity of the Armenians.

   I ask why not join the existing political organisations, be it the ARF, the ADLP, or the Hntchag party instead of creating new organisation? Do the Armenians who support the creation of the new organisation know the aims of our Armenian political parties? If they do not know, then they should first study, learn and acquaint themselves the constitution and objectives of our parties. But if they know those aims and they continue in path of creating a new organisation, then there actions are condemnable.

   And finally, if there are Armenians who have issue with the strategies of our parties, then the correct way to change the strategies or the priorities of the parties is to join and become members of the parties. Any other route divides our strength.

   If there are Armenians who do not wish to join an Armenian political party, the door is open to them to collaborate with organisations like the ANC (Armenian National Committee) which has presence in all of the Armenian diaspora. ANC type organisations provide opportunities to all Armenians to dedicate themselves to the attainment of our rights.

   I hope the reader will realise that by creating a new organisation we are dividing the power of the Armenian nation.

   I do not know the destiny of my note to your website. Will it be published? If it does not find its place on your website, if I am quoted out of context, or if the text is shortened, then it will mean that the Western Armenian Congress has hidden agenda which is different from its stated aims. I hope I am wrong.

   1. Western Congress

      Dear Mr. Momjian,

      I am surprised by your sarcasm re the integrity of Keghart.com . Over the past two years I have sent dozens of letters to Keghart. They’ve always been published unchanged, other than for grammatical reasons. Perhaps you are a new reader to the site and are not familiar with the scrupulous journalistic ethics the site abides by. I like Keghart because it gives voice to independents. Over the past two years I have heard Tashnag, Hnchag, Ramgavar, Chezok voices on this site.

      Mesrob

   2. Congress of Western Armenians

      Dear Vahe and Jirair (Gerard),

      I read with great interest your comments and take this opportunity to clarify some of the issues you raised.

      1. In any legal dispute or case the claimant must be the person or an organized group of people who are victims or descendants of victims. The victims in this case are the citizens of the Ottoman Empire of Armenian origin, not a state. The present Republic of Armenia, in accordance with the Declaration of independence and the Constitution, is  the successor of the Soviet Republic of Armenia. Furthermore  the Republic of Armenia, a sovereign and independent country, member of the United Nations, has its own prerogatives and has to respond to geo-political, economic, social and good neighborly imperatives. Hence the need to organize the western Armenians (descendants of Armenian citizens of the Ottoman Empire)  by creating an institutional and representational capacity to address all the issues of legitimate violated rights . This institution will be dealing with official entities, national, regional and international tribunals. NGO’s international and regional organizations will have to address all the issues related to property claims (private and public), the unlawful deportation of citizens making them stateless, human rights violations  and ensure the safeguard of Armenian civilization and cultural heritage in the territory of the republic of Turkey.

      2. The initiative was discussed with the Catholicos in Etchmiadzin as well as with Catholicos Aram . Both were very supportive. It was also supported by the Republic of Armenia. The distribution of roles and functions between the State and the Congress of Western Armenians was welcome. Indeed a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RoA was present during the convention and made a very encouraging and supportive statement. The complementarity between both actors is useful and essential.

      3. Discussions took place at all possible levels with the traditional political parties. The problem is that the majority of the Armenians represent a silent majority. The political parties according to their own statements made during our discussions in Buenos Aires, New York. Los Angeles, Paris and Yerevan recognized that they do not represent more than 10% of the 7 million Armenians in the Diaspora, notwithstanding the fact that they made enormous efforts to have the genocide recognized particularly by the USA, but did not during the last 90 years of pursuing the issue of justice and restitution.

      4. We are ready to expand the democratic base of the Congress and harmonize its activities with all institutions, organizations and research centres dealing with the genocide and its consequences. 

      Sorry for the lengthy comment. 

      PAREGAMOREN,

      Souren Seraydarian

      1. Souren Seraydarian comment

         Dear Mr Seraydarian,

         Let me congratulate you on your election as president of CWA. I wish you all the best. The first part (1) of your response to Vahe and Jirair (Gerard), clearly defines the reason,scope, and the mission of the CWA. It was focused, clear, concise, and without any common generalities. Your mission will be even more focused without taking on the added responsibilities of to "ensure  the safeguard of Armenian civilization and cultural heritage in the territory of republic of Turkey". (There seem to be some efforts in that regard, restoration of Dikranagerd church, Aghtamar, Ani…)

         Hachoghootyan Maghtanknerov,

         Zohrab Sarkissian

10. Baffling and Contradictory

    For the first time since 1915 mass was held at the renovated churches of Sourp Khatch on the historic Akhtamar island during the second half of 2010 and at Sourp Guiragos in Dikranagerd this year.

     

    On December 13, the U.S. House of Representative adopted a landmark religious freedom measure by voting for H. Res. 306 calling Turkey to return the Christian church properties and on Dec. 22 the French Senate is set to consider the bill crimiminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide. Representatives of the French-Armenian community will gather in front of the Senate that day.

     

    While these events, all pertaining to Western Armenia, were and are unfolding, a group of Armenians were vesting time and resources for a meeting in Sevres, France. They took the liberty to call it the Third Armenian Congress.

    I am baffled and find contradictory that instead of participating to invigorate our existing organizations–parishes, patriarchates, catholicosates, political parties a new entity is being pushed forth under Charents’ banner.   

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