ARF Youth Protest Turkish Envoy’s Visit to Yerevan
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Youth Organization of Armenia held a rally in front of the Armenian government building on Friday to protest the arrival of Ankara’s special envoy on the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations, Serdar Kilic, to Armenia.
The demonstrators were also joined by the public, as well as representatives from other political organizations.
The youth protesters also held photos of the leaders of Artsakh, who are being held captive by Azerbaijan in Baku prisons, and posters with the inscription “No to Denial,” referring to Turkey’s ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide.
“The special representative of Turkey Seydar Kilic arrived in Armenia under the name of normalizing Armenia-Turkey interstate roads, however, we all understand that this meeting is in the context of satisfying the preconditions of the political side,” said Zhora Avdalyan, the chair of the ARF Youth Organization Central Executive.
“We are here to emphasized that we are against Turkey’s policy of denial,” he added.
Avdalyan said Turkey’s policy has not changed for 100 years and, now, they are not ready for a dialogue with Armenia without preconditions.
“There is a generation in Armenia that demands recognition and reparations for the Genocide, therefore we declare that any agreement reached with these authorities is null and void. No to denial,” he emphasized.
His speech was followed by protesters fervently chanting “No to Denial.”
“I am from the generation of a family that survived the Genocide. Neither I, nor my parents, nor my grandparents had the opportunity to be born in our historical homeland,” said Shahane Chonyan, a member of the ARF Nikol Aghbalyan Student Association Executive Board.
“The only culprit for this was the criminal policy of the Ottoman Empire and its heir, Turkey. The culprit for this is not facing the lessons of history and trying to establish peace on blood that has not yet dried,” she added.
Gor Sargsyan, a representative of the Yerevan gomideh of the ARF, stated that Kilic did not come to meet with representatives of Armenia, but rather with those who share Turkey’s policy. According to him, it would be good if the Turkish envoy met not only with Pashinyan and his group, but also with the segment of the Armenian people who represent the actual truth and reality.
