NY to host forum on Armenian-Turkish relations

March 1, 2010 - 11:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - A public forum titled “Armenian-Turkish Relations: Pitfalls and Possibilities” will be held in New York on March 7. Organized by the New York and New Jersey committees of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD), the forum will feature former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, ANCA chairman Ken Hachikian, the chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA Richard Hovannisian, and emeritus professor of History at UMich-Dearborn Dennis Papazian.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is one of the oldest Armenian political parties founded in Tiflis in 1890. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun led the effort toward the establishment of the first Armenian Republic in 1918 and was the party in power for the duration of its existence. Following the Sovietization of Armenia in 1920, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its leadership exiled. The party officially re-emerged in Armenia during the dissolution of the USSR in 1990. On December 28, 1994, the activities of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun were “temporarily suspended” by the Armenian authorities. On February 9, 1998, less than a week after the resignation of the then president Ter-Petrossian, the Justice Ministry of Armenia lifted the ban on the party.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis (Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia) in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian The ARF has the largest number of members from the political parties present in the Armenian Diaspora, having established affiliates in more than 200 countries.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun led the effort toward the establishment of the first Armenian Republic in 1918 and was the party in power for the duration of its existence. Following the Sovietization of Armenia in 1920, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its leadership exiled.

In the Diaspora, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun fought Soviet rule over Armenia and championed the cause of Armenian rights and independence; it played a leading role in organizing a social and cultural framework aimed at preserving the Armenian identity.

The ARF Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia during the dissolution of the USSR, in 1990.

On December 28, 1994, the activities of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun were "temporarily suspended" by the Armenian authorities. In view of the political nature of the anti-ARF interdictions by the Armenian authorities, the ARF continued to operate in Armenia. On February 9, 1998, less than a week after the resignation of the then president Ter-Petrossian, the Justice Ministry lifted the ban on the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

Prior to Serzh Sargsyan's election as president of Armenia and for a short time thereafter, the ARF was a member of the governing coalition, even though it nominated its own candidate in the presidential elections.