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AIMS OF ARMENIAN
CONGRESSES
Throughout the period covered
by the "Armenian Question" or "Armenian Problem"
the Armenian terror groups have been given indirect encouragement
by certain churches and states, while at the same time a number
of Armenian congresses have been held at their request and
invitation. Most of these congresses have been organized by
the Dashnak or Hunchak terror groups and attended by their
own members, together with other Armenians interested in the
topic and representatives of the churches. Such congresses
have normally been in the nature of forums at which topics
such as the actual situation and conditions together with
the activities and potential capabilities of the organization
were discussed, and at which a number of decisions were taken.
These decisions were, however, very rarely actually applied
and most often served merely to foment faction and conflict.
In the period 1973-1985, during
the New Armenian Terror, congresses under such titles as "The
International Armenian Groups" were held in Paris in
1979, Lausanne in 1983 and Sevres in 1985. At these congresses
attempts were made to address world public opinion, as well
as the various Armenian communities and members of the Armenian
terror groups. At the congress held in 1985 under the chairmanship
of a priest, James Karauzian, the text of an "Armenian
Constitution" was accepted. The declared aims of the
congresses held during this period were "to foster unity
and co-operation among Armenians", "to form a centre
for the formulation of political demands and aspirations",
and "to combine the various Armenian terror groups in
a single organization". Priority was given to a massive
propaganda and psychological campaign to inform international
public opinion of their activities. Attempts were also made
to interest Armenians in the work of the various groups and
to involve them in terror or other operations. Another aim
of these congresses was to ensure harmony and co-operation
between the various separate Armenian terror groups. Thus
all terror and other activities could be presented as the
common policy of the international Armenian community, and
the various elements brought together in a united front.
These congresses had a number
of characteristics in common:
a) In all
of them priority was given to discussions concerning armed
struggle. Disagreements between those who supported armed
struggle and those who opposed this strategy finally led to
splits in the Armenian terror groups. ASALA refused, or was
not allowed, to participate in any of the congresses held
after the Paris Congress of 1979.
b) It was
decided that the texts of all decisions taken at these congresses
should be forwarded to the various international bodies and
that these decisions should be considered and discussed at
various levels in the international forums. Means were also
discussed by which this decision could be put into effect.
c) One
of the most important topics of discussion was the union of
all Armenians in a single organization, but no agreement could
ever be reached on how this aim was to be achieved. The text
known as the "Constitution" accepted the idea of
a preparatory period.
d) The
number of participants at these congresses steadily diminished.
e) No effective
measures were taken to remove the differences of opinion that
were very clearly revealed at these congresses.
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