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PFA HOLDS RECEPTION ON MAY 28
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/06/02/pfa-holds-reception-on-may-28/
Thu, Jun 2 2011
WASHINGTON-On May 28, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) held a reception
on the occasion of the independence of the First Armenian Republic
(1918-20) at the historic University Club of Washington. The event
served as the first in a series of introductions of members of
the Sardarapat Movement's Initiating Group-film director Tigran
Khzmalyan and informational technology expert Garegin Chugaszyan,
who are visiting Washington at the invitation of PFA-to the Armenian
community and policy circles in the nation's capital.
In his keynote address, Dr. Rouben Adalian, the director of the
Armenian National Institute, stressed the importance of the Battle of
Sardarabad for preserving culture and identity, and regaining statehood
in those darkest of times in the history of Armenia. As improbable
as it seemed at the time, he noted that the success in Sardarabad
became an important milestone for measuring successes of the future.
Khzmalyan emphasized the need for continuing the fight for
independence, amid the worsening governance in and external
dependence of Armenia. Stressing that independence should not be
taken for granted, he called on Armenians worldwide, irrespective
of party affiliations and geography, to help regain Armenia's true
independence-one that will guarantee dignity, freedom, and prosperity.
Recalling Yeghishe Charents' poems written at the dawn of the First
Republic, Chugaszyan reminded participants that the foundations for
a strong statehood lie in people's unconventional love towards their
country at the most desperate of times. He referred to the dark winter
of the third Armenian republic, which will undoubtedly end soon and
be followed by the spring of the forth republic to come.
In his closing remarks, David Grigorian, PFA's co-founder, called on
community members to intensify their search for new ways of engaging
with Armenia by focusing on civil society groups, such as Sardarapat,
who are on the forefront of the battle for democracy and a stronger
Armenia. He stressed that the existing mechanisms have offered little,
if any, incentives for the successive ruling regimes in Armenia to
reform and do better, emphasizing the need to scrap them in exchange
for new models of engagement that will have allegiances to the people
of Armenia (as opposed to their rulers) in their core.
Discussions between members of the Sardarapat Movement and stakeholders
will continue through Thurs., June 2, to give an opportunity to share
their views on the ongoing political and economic crisis in Armenia
and offer ways forward.
PFA is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at
strengthening discourse on Armenia's economic development and national
security, and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.
Its main objective is to offer alternative views and professional
analyses containing innovative and practical recommendations for
public policy design and implementation. Through its activities,
PFA aims to contribute to the creation of an informed public and a
more effective and accountable government. PFA's main asset is its
worldwide network of professionals and leaders in their respective
fields dedicated to Armenia.
The founders of PFA write: "We created the Sardarapat Movement as
our answer to the 'Armenian Question.' We, the men and women of the
Republic of Armenia-Karabagh War veterans, school teachers, economists,
human rights activists, and artists-came together in late 2010 to
resist the ongoing political and economic crisis, to build a country
that generations of Armenians have dreamt about, a country of freedom
and social justice, of equal rights and responsibilities, a country
of hope and opportunities for each and every Armenian worldwide. We
realized that citizen-oriented domestic policies and independent
foreign policy are far too important to be trusted to the current
illegitimate ruling regime. That is why we decided to take charge
now, just as we did 20 years ago, when we rose and won the war for
Karabagh against all odds; and just like our ancestors did 90 years
ago, by pushing back the advancing Turkish armies in the Battle of
Sardarabad. There were no political parties involved then, no regular
army to speak of, and not a state in charge-just the free will of free
people of Armenia, Armenians, and non-Armenians alike. The name of
our movement thus bears a direct reference to the Sardarabad victory,
a critical turning point of our modern history."
"Indeed, today's Armenia is facing a new Sardarabad: The nation is
divided by terrible polarization and injustice, when people are
deprived of their basic rights of free vote and independent due
process; when a handful of corrupt individuals has 'privatized' the
heritage of generations and bargains with adversaries on the terms
equivalent to conceding our independence and our victories. The
Sardarapat Movement stands for strong and vocal Armenia-centric
foreign policy, and against any territorial concessions in Karabagh,
which would be equivalent to jeopardizing safety of people who live
there and the security of the country as a whole. No reconciliation
with Turkey is possible unless Ankara accepts its responsibility for
the genocide and takes credible steps for addressing its implications.
On the domestic front, we believe that our economy can no longer be
held hostage to a few oligarchs, while the overwhelming majority
of the population is humiliated by poverty and unemployment. We
have to rebuild a strong export-driven economy in Armenia instead of
maintaining the current deeply flawed model of overreliance on foreign
transfers and import. Thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses
should sprawl where at present a few monopolies choke the economy. We
have to cherish our land and use its agricultural potential properly,
no matter if it is in Armenia proper, Artsakh, or the liberated
territories. In rebuilding our economic potential we have to rely
on all of our resources, first and foremost, on the human capital of
those in Armenia and the diaspora. Together we can achieve a lot.
Together we will."
For more information, visit www.pf-armenia.org.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2011/06/02/pfa-holds-reception-on-may-28/
Thu, Jun 2 2011
WASHINGTON-On May 28, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) held a reception
on the occasion of the independence of the First Armenian Republic
(1918-20) at the historic University Club of Washington. The event
served as the first in a series of introductions of members of
the Sardarapat Movement's Initiating Group-film director Tigran
Khzmalyan and informational technology expert Garegin Chugaszyan,
who are visiting Washington at the invitation of PFA-to the Armenian
community and policy circles in the nation's capital.
In his keynote address, Dr. Rouben Adalian, the director of the
Armenian National Institute, stressed the importance of the Battle of
Sardarabad for preserving culture and identity, and regaining statehood
in those darkest of times in the history of Armenia. As improbable
as it seemed at the time, he noted that the success in Sardarabad
became an important milestone for measuring successes of the future.
Khzmalyan emphasized the need for continuing the fight for
independence, amid the worsening governance in and external
dependence of Armenia. Stressing that independence should not be
taken for granted, he called on Armenians worldwide, irrespective
of party affiliations and geography, to help regain Armenia's true
independence-one that will guarantee dignity, freedom, and prosperity.
Recalling Yeghishe Charents' poems written at the dawn of the First
Republic, Chugaszyan reminded participants that the foundations for
a strong statehood lie in people's unconventional love towards their
country at the most desperate of times. He referred to the dark winter
of the third Armenian republic, which will undoubtedly end soon and
be followed by the spring of the forth republic to come.
In his closing remarks, David Grigorian, PFA's co-founder, called on
community members to intensify their search for new ways of engaging
with Armenia by focusing on civil society groups, such as Sardarapat,
who are on the forefront of the battle for democracy and a stronger
Armenia. He stressed that the existing mechanisms have offered little,
if any, incentives for the successive ruling regimes in Armenia to
reform and do better, emphasizing the need to scrap them in exchange
for new models of engagement that will have allegiances to the people
of Armenia (as opposed to their rulers) in their core.
Discussions between members of the Sardarapat Movement and stakeholders
will continue through Thurs., June 2, to give an opportunity to share
their views on the ongoing political and economic crisis in Armenia
and offer ways forward.
PFA is an independent professional non-profit association aimed at
strengthening discourse on Armenia's economic development and national
security, and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.
Its main objective is to offer alternative views and professional
analyses containing innovative and practical recommendations for
public policy design and implementation. Through its activities,
PFA aims to contribute to the creation of an informed public and a
more effective and accountable government. PFA's main asset is its
worldwide network of professionals and leaders in their respective
fields dedicated to Armenia.
The founders of PFA write: "We created the Sardarapat Movement as
our answer to the 'Armenian Question.' We, the men and women of the
Republic of Armenia-Karabagh War veterans, school teachers, economists,
human rights activists, and artists-came together in late 2010 to
resist the ongoing political and economic crisis, to build a country
that generations of Armenians have dreamt about, a country of freedom
and social justice, of equal rights and responsibilities, a country
of hope and opportunities for each and every Armenian worldwide. We
realized that citizen-oriented domestic policies and independent
foreign policy are far too important to be trusted to the current
illegitimate ruling regime. That is why we decided to take charge
now, just as we did 20 years ago, when we rose and won the war for
Karabagh against all odds; and just like our ancestors did 90 years
ago, by pushing back the advancing Turkish armies in the Battle of
Sardarabad. There were no political parties involved then, no regular
army to speak of, and not a state in charge-just the free will of free
people of Armenia, Armenians, and non-Armenians alike. The name of
our movement thus bears a direct reference to the Sardarabad victory,
a critical turning point of our modern history."
"Indeed, today's Armenia is facing a new Sardarabad: The nation is
divided by terrible polarization and injustice, when people are
deprived of their basic rights of free vote and independent due
process; when a handful of corrupt individuals has 'privatized' the
heritage of generations and bargains with adversaries on the terms
equivalent to conceding our independence and our victories. The
Sardarapat Movement stands for strong and vocal Armenia-centric
foreign policy, and against any territorial concessions in Karabagh,
which would be equivalent to jeopardizing safety of people who live
there and the security of the country as a whole. No reconciliation
with Turkey is possible unless Ankara accepts its responsibility for
the genocide and takes credible steps for addressing its implications.
On the domestic front, we believe that our economy can no longer be
held hostage to a few oligarchs, while the overwhelming majority
of the population is humiliated by poverty and unemployment. We
have to rebuild a strong export-driven economy in Armenia instead of
maintaining the current deeply flawed model of overreliance on foreign
transfers and import. Thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses
should sprawl where at present a few monopolies choke the economy. We
have to cherish our land and use its agricultural potential properly,
no matter if it is in Armenia proper, Artsakh, or the liberated
territories. In rebuilding our economic potential we have to rely
on all of our resources, first and foremost, on the human capital of
those in Armenia and the diaspora. Together we can achieve a lot.
Together we will."
For more information, visit www.pf-armenia.org.