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THE ARMENIAN
CONSTITUTION
In his speech
introducing the Armenian Constitution, accepted by “Third
International Armenian Congress”, Mr. James Karnuzian declared
that "the Armenians had been greatly handicapped by their
lack of unity" and that the only means of removing this
handicap and ensuring unity was to form "a unified group”.
He went on to say that the text known as the "Constitution"
comprised all the various views consonant with this aim.
Impartial observers
announced that, in the event of this Constitutions being put
into effect, "all groups and organizations engaged in
the struggle for the victory of the Armenian cause would be
gathered together under the aegis of the Armenian Congress".
The main aims
of the Armenian Congress as reflected in the Armenian Constitution
were as follows:
a. To unite
the Armenians scattered throughout the world into a single
body.
b. To disseminate
information throughout the world concerning the work of the
Congress.
c. To make
use of all political and diplomatic means at their disposal
to liberate Armenian territory now under Turkish occupation.
d. To organize
the return of the Armenians to their homeland and to make
the necessary preparations for this.
In order to realize
these aims, the Congress would seek ways of ensuring the participation
of other groups, without, however, sacrificing anything of
their independence and autonomy. Every group of ethnic Armenians
composed of over twenty members should have the right to representation
in the Congress in accordance with democratic principles,
thus accepting the principle of a wide popular base.
According
to the Constitution the work of the Congress centre should
be based in Switzerland.
Traditional bodies
such as the "Armenian National Council" should be
divided into organizations such as the "General Council"
and "Executive Council".
CONCLUSIONS
What is the truth
concerning the "Armenian Problem" and the "Armenian
Question" that lies behind the renewal of terrorist activity
in the years between 1973 and 1985?
What are the
lessons to be learned from this terrorist activity, which
far surpasses in ruthlessness the work of any of the Armenian
terrorist groups of the past?
What light can
be shed on future developments by an evaluation of the events
of that period?
As a conclusion
to this comprehensive study, almost entirely based as it is
on Armenian publications or on works deriving from sources
sympathetic to the Armenian cause, we believe a satisfactory
reply can be given to all these questions.
1. The
propaganda formerly used to exploit the various interests,
aims and expectations of the Armenians living within the Ottoman
Empire, and at converting these minority groups into a problem
for the Ottoman State, is still being propagated under the
guise of an "Armenian Cause" in various countries
in the world, including the Armenian Republic, which now forms
part of the USSR. It is now no longer a question of an "Armenian
Problem" but of an "Armenian Cause", a concept
that is now being thrust upon world public opinion, international
organizations, and various parliaments and senates. The new
Armenian terrorism of 1973-1985 employs weapons, crimes, massacres
and attacks as propaganda aimed at enforcing acceptance of
the justice of this "cause". In other words, all
these massacres, crimes and attacks have a single aim - to
publicize the "Armenian Cause", to emphasise its
scope and dimensions, and so arouse fear and apprehension
regarding the lengths to which this terror could well be taken.
2. There are
certain lessons to be learned by humanity as a whole, as well
as by the Armenians themselves, whose names have become associated
with a terrorist activity in which they have been in no way
involved, from the new wave of Armenian terrorism of 1973-1985.
The use of terror as a means of propaganda and psychological
pressure is a question of concern to all states, and it from
this point of view that the 1973-1985 era must be evaluated.
States founded on principles of law and order find their field
of activity restricted or even rendered utterly powerless
in the face of a terror that acknowledges no law and regards
all means as legitimate. Even more important, some states
sympathise with this terrorism and even support it on geopolitical
grounds, failing to realize that one day the same weapon may
be turned against themselves. From this point of view, the
new wave of Armenian terrorism contains a number of very valuable
lessons.
From another
angle, the apparent differences, conflicts and even divisions
between the various Armenian terrorist groups are purely superficial.
As a means of propaganda for the propagation of the "Armenian
cause", whatever the method of application, range or
scope, all these apparently discrete elements complement each
other in their work towards the achievement of a common aim.
And the expert in the use of psychology in political struggle
is presented with clear evidence of terror as one aspect of
psychological warfare.
3. Future developments
will be determined by the attitudes adopted by states who
see in the acceptance or rejection of the "Armenian Cause"
the realisation of the geopolitical expectations of international
organizations, states, parliaments and senates in the field
of international relations, and they will increase commensurately
in importance.
The acceptance
of the "Armenian Cause" in the form in which it
is now presented, means the advance acceptance of an attitude
that will not be content with sporadic massacres, crimes and
attacks, but which will inevitably turn towards the waging
of a regular war.
If the "Armenian
Cause" is interpreted as being the preservation and development
of the Armenian language, religion and culture, this will
result in the complete rejection of terrorism, and will liberate
the Armenian people from a situation which is causing them
great anxiety and apprehension. Otherwise, they will finally
become the victims of a steadily increasing anarchy and the
incriminations of others.
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