YEREVAN—On Tues., Dec. 1, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Supreme Council of Armenia announced that it plans to sue the government for what it terms unconstitutional actions in the recent Armenia-Turkey rapprochement, reported Yerkir.
The ARF parliamentary bloc had petitioned the government to provide all documents and reports detailing the rapprochement from the onset of the process to the present.
The responses to the 23-point questionnaire illustrate that the Armenian government was completely unprepared when it began and entered the process of rapprochement, said ARF bloc member Artsvik Minasyan.
“The responses already pose serious questions. We are going to introduce our concerns for discussion in the National Assembly,” said ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Armen Rustamian.
The lawmaker added that the government did not adhere to provisions of Armenian law and called the answers “diplomatic and legal illiteracy.”
Minasyan explained that the ARF-initiated lawsuit would provide the Constitutional Court grounds to reject the protocols as unconstitutional.
As I read this I audibly chuckled. Setting aside the likelihood of any monetary triumph, if the Dashnaks sincerely are vested in the Republic of Armenia’s future prosperity in the Caucasus, I would greatly like to hear their rationale behind such action, and what potential benefit for Armenia as a whole it offers. With the economy contracting over 15%, poverty rates at nearly 30%, a lowered budget, and heavy IMF loans on the books, any winnings will merely be food, change and shelter stolen from the possession of desperately strapped Armenian civilians in the form of future taxes and public debt. From an outsider’s perspective, this only further fortifies Armenia’s image as a politically dysfunctional and unfortunately split post Soviet state. Rallying Armenia’s people and Diaspora, creating public awareness, uniting and creating synergies amongst other historically rival political groups and organizations who feel similarly against the protocols would be a much greater use of resources. For a people as few as ours, given the current timing and regional developments we are in a position to make our 95 year old goals central to other’s agenda. With the Government reducing military expenditure by 22% FY2010 and Azerbaijan continuing to build arms, I genuinely hope the ARF, which has been a unequivocal defender and supporter of the Armenian nation and its survival since its inception, rethinks any brash decision that contradicts its past and jeopardizes our future.
This is yet another example of the ARF doing everything it can WITHIN the system to stop these detrimental protocols from being ratified, all while they are continuing to build an opposition bloc. I think the amount of effort they are putting in is commendable.
ARF has seemingly abandoned the role of a constructive minority party in Armenia promoting useful dialogue. The party has become-well- extremist. Extremist in the sense that ideological filters are so severe that they have become disconnected from reality.
I deem to differ with both APiligian and Harb above. The only sensible party in here who is solely concerned about the Armenian nation and Armenia’s sacred lands is the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. If today’s government acted legally and morally, Tashnagtsutyun would not have to go to any extremity to bring the government and some of the uneducated populace to their senses. ARF is not a majority elected party, on the other hand Sargsyan and his clan did not share the particulars of the so called protocols with their people nor the other parties of Armenia. ARF tried and is still trying to do their best not to fall in the hands of the enemy and give up our rights. I am in agreement with ARF all the way. May God bless them.
Seervart,with due respect, I am in full agreement with APiligian and Harb. What useful purpose and outcome will this serve. I think that we all agree that the Armenian government has to be more
responsive to needsof the people,but there are only two ways to influence the outcome of a sitting government….. lobbying and elections(coalitions or parliamentary elections). The ARF chose to exit
(correctly I believe)the government,but the role of loyal opposition/populist party is not without challenges. Idon’t think this strategy will improve their lobbying efforts and the coalition option has been abandoned for the time being. That leaves theelectoral process which is not an immediate option. So how do you perform the loyal opposition role…. rally the people in a constructive manner to implement change. It’s a much slower, but far more beneficial process for the future of Armenia. This sounds like a plan for confusion and tension that reallydoesn’t involve the citizendry.
When the ARF announced that they were exiting the government, I thought it was a good move for two reasons….. one it was(and is) what Armenia needs togrow democratically and two it is much more inline with the role and capabilities of the ARF(conscience of the nation). The continued democratization of Armenia is our biggest challenge. It is tied to the core issues of the nation……
Democracy……investment…….employment…… stability and growth of the population…. a future for the young people. The ARF can play a major role in this tranformation,
It’s so sad to this kind of pathetic, almost silly, behavior by an experienced old party…