ARF Eastern Region members gathered at AYF Camp Haiastan on October 11-13, 2024, for a weekend of education and camaraderie. Nearly 50 ARF members attended the regional event, held for the first time since 2021.
The event was designed to inform and inspire discussion and dialogue among attendees. A special oath-taking ceremony set the tone for the rest of the weekend, when ARF Bureau member Giro Manoyan delivered the ARF oath on Friday evening to five novices who had completed their ARF novice education program.
Manoyan’s lecture on “Current Geopolitics for the Homeland and the ARF’s Position and Strategies” kicked off Saturday’s presentations. It generated numerous questions and explanations centered on regional political dynamics in the aftermath of the 2020 Artsakh War, Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing and genocide of Artsakh’s population starting on September 19, 2023, and the Armenian government’s inadequate and dangerous responses to these combined crises, which endanger Armenia’s very existence.
The timely lecture “Building Resiliency in Times of Adversity” followed Manoyan’s lecture, led by psychotherapist and ARF “Washington Sebouh” member Tsoghig Hekimian. In the debut of this interactive workshop, Hekimian tackled the complex feelings processed by community members and organizational leaders in light of the Artsakh War, Azeri crimes against Artsakh’s Armenians and the Republic of Armenia, and the Pashinyan regime’s dangerous policies, which have emboldened Turkey and Azerbaijan to escalate political, economic and territorial demands. Participants discussed their emotions and ongoing experiences as activists to acknowledge realities and renew the necessary fortitude to fight for the Armenian Cause.
Saturday afternoon was devoted to a comprehensive presentation by AYF-YOARF Central Executive members, who updated attendees on the demographics, programs and issues of today’s AYF Seniors and Juniors, explored the current relationship between the ARF and its youth organization and urged greater attention to offering dual ARF-AYF members more information about ARF regional matters and engagement opportunities.
The panagoum’s final day on Sunday began with a presentation by ARF Yerevan Central Committee chair Jirayr Beujekian, who discussed the ARF’s military role in the first and second Artsakh wars and the party’s volunteer training strategy. Attendees asked many questions, which resulted in new insights and more questions for future exploration and discussion.
ARF Greece Central Committee chair Hripsime Haroutiunian’s presentation Sunday afternoon centered on the question, “Who is the Tashnagtsagan?” Based on the seminal essay of the same name by the late ARF leader and intellectual Hratch Dasnabedian, Haroutiunian’s lecture allowed participants to revisit the core duties and attributes of an ARF member and consider their roles in the party.
The weekend ended with a lively panel discussion with the weekend’s guest speakers, ARF Central Committee members and AYF-YOARF Central Executive members.
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