What Raffi Hovannisian and Other Leaders in Armenia Must Do

The Armenian Weekly in its August 31 issue reports, "David Boyajian, long an advocate for civil rights among Armenians, will be formally recognized by the Lowell 'Aharonian' ARF Committee…. [He] will be singled out for his untiring efforts against the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) denial of the Armenian Genocide and efforts to prevent its acknowledgement." "The recognition is part of a celebration surrounding the establishment of a New Independent Republic" and will take place on Oct. 4 at the Saint Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Like many others who are critical of the recently announced Protocols, Boyajian has shown his disapproval. There are many ideas that are floating around of how to neutralize their effects and ultimately annul them. Boyajian has his proposal outlined in this brief.

 

I am hoping that Raffi Hovannisian, a member of the Armenian parliament and the founder of the Heritage Party and ACNIS, takes these actions:

1. Resigns from the Parliament (as is reported that he will).
2. Announces that he will be a candidate for President of Armenia in the next election.
3. Announces that if elected President he will ensure that the so-called Turkish-Armenian “Protocols” — if passed by the Armenian Parliament, as is widely expected to happen — are declared illegal, invalid, and void because:

A. The current “President” and his so-called “Parliament” were “elected” through illegitimate, rigged elections, and, therefore, their decisions are illegitimate and illegal;

B. The Protocols contradict the legitimate national rights of the Armenian people;

C. The Protocols contradict existing treaties and international law regarding the genocide of the Armenian people by Turkey, as well as Western Armenian territory, reparations, restitution, and the rights of the Armenian people.

If Raffi Hovannisian  – and, hopefully, other officials and political parties – does all of these things, it will throw a monkey wrench into the Protocols process and galvanize the Armenian people in Armenia and throughout the world.

Hovannisian will outflank Armenia’s external adversaries as well as those within Armenia who have abused their power and usurped the rights of the people.

Hovannisian will be serving notice that the Protocols themselves are dead and that Parliament’s passing them is, therefore, an exercise in futility.

Hovannisian may even be elected the next President if he makes these courageous moves.  In any case, he will have made a firm and principled stand, something that cannot be said of many other leaders in Armenia thus far.