Proposal for a petition regarding the recently announced Protocols‏

Dear Friend,

You are aware of the Protocols, I am sure. The implications are deleterious to our people. On previous occasions you have initiated, or participated and/or circulated petitions that deal with significant issues related to our people. The most recent were:

Open Letter to His Excellency Serzh Sargsyan, President of Republic of Armenia http://www.keghart.com/node/297 and
We Condemn the Turkish-Armenian Agreement http://keghart.com/node/420 http://www.keghart.com/node/426

This time it is not any different. Our people is facing a greater challenge. I would invite those who have not had a chance yet to read Switzerland-Armenia Association Position Paper at http://www.keghart.com/node/630 to familiarize themselves with the grave implications of the protocols.

To this end a petition may be circulated as follows:

We, the signatories, are in agreement with establishing neighbourly International Relations between Armenia and Turkey. However, we strongly oppose the conditions outlined in the Protocols of 31 August 2009 that

1. Include provisions for a commission of historians, thus questioning the veracity of the Genocide of the Armenians,
2. Exclude the principle of self-determination and hence jeopardize the future of Nagorno Karabagh,
3. Recognize only the principle of territorial integrity, and hence effectively legitimize the occupation of Western Armenia.

I think a petition besides expressing an opinion should offer a plan of action to neutralize the negative aspects. There are several ideas that are floating. I'll summarize the most reasonable ones:

1. Ask the parliament not to ratify; however, with the present composition, it is highly likely that the Parliament may ratify. In the unlikely event that the Armenian parliament does not ratify coupled with highly unlikely Turkish parliament ratifying, then Armenia will attract the wrath of the western governments with all their mighty propaganda machine.

2. Call for a referendum in Armenia: provided it is freely carried. Again, it is questionable, because the government seems to be determined to go ahead, hence there is no guarantee that it will not be rigged.

3. Call for demonstrations: that I think should come from Armenia and not the Diaspora, although the Diaspora may organize its own. A friend has suggested

a Pan-Armenian Demonstration in Sèvres, France. Our compatriots in Europe work well with each other and they are capable of mobilizing people. It would be a very powerful symbolic slap in the face of all who concocted this shameful protocols.

If you are in agreement with being an initiator of such a petition please provide (1)your full first and last name without abbreviations, (2) degree or occupation (3) and the country you reside in. Suggestions, remarks, criticisms are welcome. Following a period of 48 hours a pre-final draft will be drawn for the approval of those who are in agreement to publish such a petition.

Respectfully,

Dikran Abrahamian BA, MD, Ontario, Canada

NB

Below are the names of people who will receive a copy of this message. They all appear under the relevant petitions mentioned above in Keghart.com. Hence, no violation of privacy is incurred. However, your e-mails are not displayed.

Avedis Bedrossian; Ara Manoogian; John Avedian; Hagop Mardirossian; Levon Ishag; Garo Ohannesyan; Garin Ohannesyan; Eugenie Tcharlassian; Isabelle Kortian;
Nadin Ohannesyan; Viktor A. Badalian; Vartkes Nicolian; Dikran Abrahamian; Leo (Levon) Manuelian; Harutyun Vosganyan; Gerard Paraghamian; Davit Zargarian;
Hagop Sevakian; Lina Davidian; Harut Der Tavitian; Gevork Aydinyan; Shavarsh Manougian; Yeghish Kazandjian; Jirair Tutunjian; Varvara Gasparyan; Sirvart Garabedian;
Ara Kahramanian; Armen Gakavian; Berj Gueyikian; Aleksandr Burnazyan; Andre Hovhannesyan; Lena Tchakmakian; Zareh Tchelikdjian; Vatche Aslanian;

Vasken Deukmedjian; Ishkhan Babajanian; Levon Hakopjan; Armen Topouzian; Meguerdich Torossian; Maria Cristina Koutoudjian; Taniel Tanielian; Charles Paskerian;

Dikran Abajian; Victor Mamourian; Vahram Jihanian; Antranig Bedrossian; Edmond Beglarian; Bagrad Nazarian; TorosYeranjian; Haig Kupelian; Madlen Avetyan
Janis Bazian; Talar Hagopian; Serboohi Amirkhanian; Vasken Gaboydian; GaroTashdjian; Gerard Paraghamian; Edward Emmian; Zareh A; John Karasarkissian;
Ara Gregorian; Helen Samourian; Harut DerTavitian; Sylvie Balian; Vehanoush Mardirossian; Michael Kolton; Varoujan Boghossian; Simon & Piatrice Shekerjian;
Maria Hagopian; Nora Karahagopian; Lita Donelian; Varant Alexandrian; Svetlana Sharoyan; Alvard Antonyan; Sofik Galstyan; Sona Mardanyan; Yelena Sharoyan;
Aleksandr Burnazyan; Tamar Nigolian; Arevik Abaghyan; Janet Ghassemian; Vardan Tserunyan; Mari Barseghyan-Khanjyan; Anahit Tonoyan; Sevan Davtyan;

Talin Giragosian; Avetisyan Lusine; Alice Momjian-Ravary; Setrak Kassabian; Vik Momjian; Vicken Arabian; Avanes Giragosian; Vahagn Nazarian; Marine Vahradyan;
Gayane Badalyan; Marina Boulboulian; Wayne Berberian; Varto Hairanian; Sergey Hovhannisyan; Suzie Markarian; Dickran Torossian; Herosoohi Vesmadian;
Anna Aghakhanyan; Grigor Chubaryan; Lily Ordoubeigian; Suzy Sarafian; Mary Arevian; Noyem Fereshetyan; Garri Nahapetyan;Flora Guiragossian;
Garen Mirzoyan; Vartkes Nicolian; Olga Agayan; Artur Oganesyan; Aramies Mirzakhanian; Ruben Araqelyan; Karen Sargsyan; José Sarukhán;

Rev. Father Serop Azarian; Avedis Diban; Ara Kherlopian; Nazareth Davidian; Ara Manoogian; Artak Movsesyan; Arshak Bagdasarian; Vartan Vartanian;

Maro Badiguian-Shirvanian; Haikas Bedrossian; Arlet Allahverdi; Armen Attarian; Bruce Tasker; Arpi Hocacanyan; Antranig Chaderjian; Armen Hirant;
Isabelle Kortian; Levon Manuelian; L. Davidian; Haig Khatchadourian; Haig Misakyan; Haig Baltadjian; Maro Manavian; Minas Kojayan; Harout Der Tavitian;
Berge Minassian; S. Balian; Sebouh Boyajian; Van Balabanian; Viken L. Attarian; V. A. Badalian; Aram Adamyan; Ardavast Avakian; Arsine Attarian;

Dennis R. Papazian; Edgar Manukian; Hasmig Kurdian; Hratch Tourikian; Kate Tairyan; Kevin McGill; Rita Charchyan; Ruth Cooper; Shirley Fersch;

Unus Ali; Vigen Ghazarian; Virginia Misakyan; Vrejouhy Atikian; Anne Abrahamian; Ara Nahabedian; Aram S. Hanissian; Armen Kharazian; Ari Armen;

Edward Sarafian; Felicia Waldman; Hagop Kazarian; Harut Der-Tavitian; Hmayak Arazian; Houry Ellezian; Jack Kafesdjian; John Kostanian;

John J. Manoukian; Karen Hakobyan; Karine Avedissian; Lena Karaguezian; Leo Manuelian; Nayiri Tavlian; Miguel Angel Nalpatian;

Myrna Karamanoukian; Peter Adourian; Raffy Dikranian; Rouben Shougarian; Siamanto Oknaian; Stepan Piligian; Sylvie Balian; Varoujan Knouni;

Viktor A. Badalyan; Zaven Khanjian; Nayiri Abrahamian; Maro Shorjian; Nora Ulrich; Mihran Meneshian; Tony Terzian;

Jacques Perigaud; Grish Begian; Araxi Mangou; Lena Ellezian; Zareh Sarkissian; Ari Pailakian; Harry Barian; Leila Gorguis; Rafi Zanian; Antranik Sirinyan;

Hasmig Garabedian; Hachik Madilian; Mary Arevian; Armen Aghasaryan; Harry Parsekian; Areg Ayvazyan; Artur Sakunts;

Sylvie Yeghiaian; Gayane Hovhannisyan; Gary Grigorian; Irma Madilian; Alec Kouyoumdjian; Armin Herabit; Razmig Mardigian; Roubina Eykjian;

Mark Berg; Joseph Nahapetian; Zareh Bastajian; Seta Tokatlian; Vicken DerSarkissian; Hovsep Daghdigian; Alex Barboza;

Christine Kouyoumdjian; Lina Davidian; Elmira Arakelyan; Varoujan Boghossian;
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