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U.S. DASHNAKS IN SARKISIAN BOYCOTT U-TURN
Armenialiberty.org
Sept 19 2011
A major Diaspora branch of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) has reversed its decision to boycott an
upcoming banquet in Los Angeles to be attended by President Serzh
Sarkisian.
The September 25 event is organized by the Armenian Consulate there
and dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia's independence.
Sarkisian will attend it as part of a visit to the United States
that will involve meetings with representatives of the influential
Armenian-American community.
The Dashnaktsutyun chapter in the western U.S. said on August 18 that
its leaders will boycott the banquet in protest against Sarkisian's
track record in office. It said his presence there will "cast a shadow
on the idea of independence and denigrate the struggle of our people
for the restoration of justice."
Dashnaktsutyun's supreme decision-making body based in Yerevan,
the Bureau, was quick to criticize the extraordinary move.
In another statement circulated over the weekend, Dashnaktsutyun's
Western U.S. Central Committee claimed that the "nature" of the
celebration has been changed and that it is no longer be aimed at
honoring Sarkisian.
"As such, the reason for us to not participate has been rectified,"
read the statement reported by Dashnaktsutyun's Los Angeles-based
newspaper "Asbarez." "Once again we salute the 20th anniversary of
the re-establishment of Armenia's independence and congratulation
our people on the occasion."
Armenian government sources on Monday denied any changes in the
format of the event. "It was always meant to be a banquet devoted to
Armenia's independence and attended by President Serzh Sarkisian,"
one of them told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
The initial announcement of the boycott was a rare manifestation of
differences within the influential pan-Armenian party. Despite being
in opposition to the Yerevan government, the Dashnaktsutyun leadership
in Armenia has been quite cautious in criticizing Sarkisian.
By contrast, the party's main U.S. branch described the Armenian
president on August 18 as a "discredited" individual who "tramples
democracy and democratic values underfoot" in order to ensure "the
reproduction of the criminal regime."
In a Friday interview with "Asbarez," the branch chairman, Avedik
Izmirlian, downplayed the significance of the harsh verbal attacks
on Sarkisian. Izmirlian also slammed unnamed forces that he said are
trying to "sow the seeds of division" in the party.
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24333399.html
Armenialiberty.org
Sept 19 2011
A major Diaspora branch of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) has reversed its decision to boycott an
upcoming banquet in Los Angeles to be attended by President Serzh
Sarkisian.
The September 25 event is organized by the Armenian Consulate there
and dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia's independence.
Sarkisian will attend it as part of a visit to the United States
that will involve meetings with representatives of the influential
Armenian-American community.
The Dashnaktsutyun chapter in the western U.S. said on August 18 that
its leaders will boycott the banquet in protest against Sarkisian's
track record in office. It said his presence there will "cast a shadow
on the idea of independence and denigrate the struggle of our people
for the restoration of justice."
Dashnaktsutyun's supreme decision-making body based in Yerevan,
the Bureau, was quick to criticize the extraordinary move.
In another statement circulated over the weekend, Dashnaktsutyun's
Western U.S. Central Committee claimed that the "nature" of the
celebration has been changed and that it is no longer be aimed at
honoring Sarkisian.
"As such, the reason for us to not participate has been rectified,"
read the statement reported by Dashnaktsutyun's Los Angeles-based
newspaper "Asbarez." "Once again we salute the 20th anniversary of
the re-establishment of Armenia's independence and congratulation
our people on the occasion."
Armenian government sources on Monday denied any changes in the
format of the event. "It was always meant to be a banquet devoted to
Armenia's independence and attended by President Serzh Sarkisian,"
one of them told RFE/RL's Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
The initial announcement of the boycott was a rare manifestation of
differences within the influential pan-Armenian party. Despite being
in opposition to the Yerevan government, the Dashnaktsutyun leadership
in Armenia has been quite cautious in criticizing Sarkisian.
By contrast, the party's main U.S. branch described the Armenian
president on August 18 as a "discredited" individual who "tramples
democracy and democratic values underfoot" in order to ensure "the
reproduction of the criminal regime."
In a Friday interview with "Asbarez," the branch chairman, Avedik
Izmirlian, downplayed the significance of the harsh verbal attacks
on Sarkisian. Izmirlian also slammed unnamed forces that he said are
trying to "sow the seeds of division" in the party.
http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24333399.html