ARF Hai Tahd committees gather in Armenia, Karabakh

By Asbarez | Monday, 09 May 2016

The ARF Hai Tahd conference participants in Stepanakert (Photo by aparaj.am)

The ARF Hai Tahd conference participants in Stepanakert (Photo by aparaj.am)

YEREVAN, STEPANAKERT—Delegations representing 25 regions of the world gathered kicked off a global Armenian Revolutionary Federation Hai Tahd conference on Sunday in Armenia’s capital and then traveled to Artsakh to convene sessions there.

The conference convened in Yerevan on Sunday, with opening remarks by ARF Hai Tahd Central Council representative and Bureau member Hagop Der-Khachadourian. This was followed by welcoming remarks by ARF Bureau chairman Hrant Markarian.

The participants heard a detailed report about Armenia’s domestic political realities by the ARF Bureau’s political representative Armen Rustamian, which was followed by a report on challenges facing Armenia’s foreign policy priorities by Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan.

ARF Hai Tahd representatives meet with Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian

ARF Hai Tahd representatives meet with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian

Ahead of Sunday’s opening ceremony, the ARF Hai Tahd leaders and conference participants met with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, who presented a thorough overview of situation since Azerbaijan launched a savage attack on all of its front with the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic last month.

In discussing the negotiations process, Nalbandian said that any future meeting should only focus on warding off any repetition of the aggression by Azerbaijan in early April.

Nalbandian also added that the “unconditional implementation of the trilateral ceasefire and ceasefire consolidation agreements of 1994-1995, which have no statutes of limitations, in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, including the mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations” would
“create appropriate conditions for the continuation of the negotiation process.”

International recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, contributing to the economic development of Armenia and the strengthening of the Homeland-Diaspora relations were also discussed with the foreign minister.

The conference participants departed for Stepanakert on Sunday to resume the conference on Monday and take part in celebrations of Artsakh Armed Forces day and the 24th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi.

Artsakh Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan briefs the conference

Artsakh Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan briefs the conference

On Monday, the Foreign Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan met with the conference participants and briefed on the situation since the April 2 attacks by Azerbaijan on Artsakh.

Mirzoyan touched upon the process of the international recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the establishment and development of international cooperation in various fields and praised the Hai Tahd committees’ efforts in promoting Artsakh’s interests internationally.

Artsakh's National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulyan at the Hai Tahd conference

Artsakh’s National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulyan at the Hai Tahd conference

The Stepanakert session of the conference convened with the observance of a moment of silence for the fallen victims of the April attacks and was followed by remarks by head of the ARF parliamentary faction in Artsakh, Davit Ishkanyan.

“Just as in the past decades, we are gathered here today, so together, in a unified fashion, with determination and conviction to our ideals and programs, we can confront the challenges once again facing us,” said Ishkhanyan.

“Our understanding is that the key to the success of Hai Tahd initiatives lies within the borders of Artsakh and is embodied by the soul of the Artsakh soldier,” added Iskhanyan who guaranteed that future victories will continue to be guiding force for our people.

The Speaker of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Assembly Ashot Ghulyan also addressed the meeting.

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