STOCKHOLM—On Sunday, June 29, the Swedish-Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy was officially formed at Stockholm’s Armenian Center. A ceremonial event announcing the formation of the organisation was attended by the Armenian Ambassador to Sweden Artak Apitonian, the President of the Center for Coordination of Armenian Associations Karlen Mansourian, Armenian Revolutionary Federation chairman Armenag Mahdessian, and other Armenian community leaders.

 

An opening speech was made by Armenag Mahdessian, who mentioned that the formation of the Swedish-Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy is a historical event for the Armenian community in Sweden. Ambassador Apitonian congratulated the members of the newly formed Committee and expressed his readiness for close cooperation between the Committee and the Embassy, for the wider objective of working together for the Armenian cause.

President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (ANC of Europe) Kaspar Karampetian outlined the importance of the formation of the Swedish-Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy, underlining that within the last eight months this is the fourth Committee being formed, after those in Romania, Poland and Austria. He added that this process of formation shall continue and two more Armenian Committees will be created by the end of the year. Karampetian outlined in detail the current challenges facing Armenians, and expressed the point of view that the enlarged network of Armenian Committees with devoted participants will help cover more issues and coordinate more effectively on important task. He congratulated the newly formed Committee members and stressed that the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy will assist them in all their projects.

Chairman of Swedish-Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy Arshag Kavafian assured the audience that the Committee will implement its mission and that the entire action plan for the Committee shall be drawn soon. The short term program is in view of the parliamentary elections in Sweden this September. He then asked the representatives of Armenian organisations to assist in the Committee’s works.

Closing the meeting, EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian answered questions from the participants.