More than 12,000 Armenians protest Protocols during Serzh Sarkisian visit to Los AngelesOctober 5, 2009 - 12:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - More than 12,000 Armenian Americans from throughout California converged on the Beverly Hilton Hotel to protes the Turkey-Armenia protocols as Armenia President Serzh Sarkisian met with representatives of Armenian American organizations to defend his decision to sign the flawed documents. The protest was organized by the Stop The Protocols Campaign.Blockades and guardrails contained protesters who held signs proclaiming, "Serzh Don't Betray the Armenian People," "Turkey Accept the Genocide!" and "No to the Protocols!" Meanwhile, planes overhead were carrying banners which stated "Stop Turkish-Armenian Protocols," as large moving vans drove around the hotel with billboards picturing presidents Sarkisian and Gul with the slogan "Don't Betray us." Prior to the beginning of the community meeting, Pres. Sarkisian's delegation stood out on their 12th floor balcony and watched demonstrators, who called out in hopes that the President would address them directly. Pres. Sarkisian chose not to address the people. During the fourth hour of the protest, several hundred frustrated demonstrators broke through the barricades and stormed across the street to the hotel entrance, yelling "votch, votch," stopping traffic on Wilshire Blvd. Meanwhile ARF Western Region Central Committee member Hovan Tashdjian, who had just left the meeting with the President, described a tense Pres. Sarkisian faced with overwhelming opposition by representatives of Diasporan organizations, attempting to defend the formation of a so-called "historical commission" and arguing that the Protocols would not affect the Karabakh peace process, asbarez.com reported Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |