First of all, I do not want to elaborate on my status as a member of ARF. Having said this, I wonder what is it for the Diaspoora ARF-er/s who have taken such a harsh stand against Nikol Pashiyan and his Civil Contract party, especially that the ARF for decades professed advocacy for democracy – Ժողովրդավարութիւն - in Armenia. Needless to say, this blog is not the time, nor is the place to elaborate on the post First Republic of Armenia decades long ARF advocacy that enticed me and a generation of us, I dare say, join ARF.
The Civil Contract party, under the leadership of Nikol Pashinyan, continues on advocating peaceful relations and co-existence with Armenia’s neighbors, yes Turks, be they in Turkey or in Azerbaijan. The Civil Contract party, under the leadership of pm Nikol Pashinyan, brought about TRIPP and stands to implement U.S. sponsored Trump’s Route for International Peace and Prosperity.
Yes, Nikol Pashinyan and the Civil Contract party have taken a definitive stand against Etchmiadzin hierarchy that stands against the government of Armenia and have resorted to a SACRED STRUGGLE. Yes, the wording is theirs, to bring the government of Armenia down. A few days ago ARF-ers paid a homage to Catholicos Karekin II, who obviously is the architect of the so called SACRED STRUGGLE against the nationally elected government and remains silent and indifferent at the wide spread rumor of sexual unbecoming conduct, that may have devastating effects, not on the celibate priest/s, who have an unfair advantage of taking refuge in the church. The devastating adverse effects, I am alluding to, is to the women whom they have been allegedly sexually seduced, for they cannot find refuge in their own homes with their own families.
My brief introductory remarks are meant to lead me to the proverbial $64,000 question, the make-or-break question upon which the success of an entire project or situation hinges. Who will carry the June 7, 2026 election in Armenia, and why Diaspora ARF-ers support that Russia backed opposition?
I quote my friend Vahe Balabanian, who commented to the following in Keghart.com. He wrote: “ I recall that President Aliyev mentioned peace essentially exists now after the agreement was initialed. He later said there’s an implicit understanding with PM Pashinyan on handling Armenia’s constitution. It’s worth noting that the referendum on the revised constitution will take place after the June 7 election. There are two scenarios: 1) The Civil Contract wins and moves forward with the referendum, removing the reference; 2) The pro-Russia opposition wins, the constitution stays as is, and they attempt to meet Russia’s demand for access to TRIPP. I think scenario 2 would bring far more destabilizing forces than scenario 1. Even if the constitutional referendum were defeated due to external interference, I don’t believe it would plunge the peace process into crisis to the same extent as scenario 1”
I agree with him.
The removal of Nikol Pashinyan and his Civial Contract party will plunge the peace process into a crisis and surely will have adverse implications on Armenia and its U.S. and Europe relations along with the relations of Armenia's perpetual neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan. That is why I wonder and titled this blog the way I did. What is it for rank and file ARF-er/s in the Diaspora, if the the pro-Russia opposition wins, and the constitution stays as it is, and the opposition in power now enacts policies to meet Russia’s demands.
Yes, indeed, what it is for Diaspora ARF-ers, the members of the party that advocated the U.S. Wilsonian Armenia, who took a stand against Russia led undemocratized Soviet Armenia, following the collapse of the short lived First Republic.
Any ARF-er care/s care to elaborate on the policies the Diaspora ARF advocates, to take such a harsh stand against the current elected government of Armenia? What is it for that particular Diaspora ARF-er?
