International recognition of the Armenian Genocide, territorial reparations, restoration of Armenians’ rights, consolidation of statehood of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, protection of the Javakhk Armenians’ interests – these are the issues on the Hay Dat agenda, Hakob Ter-Khachatryan, an ARF Bureau member, stated at a conference of Hay Dat (Armenian Cause) Committees in Yerevan.

He laid special emphasis on the protection of the Javakhk Armenians’ interests in the context of the Georgian authorities’ “consistent anti-Armenian policy.” As to international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and territorial reparations, Ter-Khachatryan stressed some of the Armenians’ achievements – over 20 states have recognized the Armenian Genocide. “But Turkey and Azerbaijan are exerting consistent efforts to prevent the satisfaction of Hay Dat demands. The process has been facilitated by the recently launched Armenian-Turkish dialogue,” he said.

As regards the means of achieving Hay Dat aims, Ter-Khachatryan stressed that Armenian lobbyists must keep in close touch with Turkish dissidents, who do not share official Ankara’s position on the Armenian issue. “It may cause growing dissent in Turkey,” he said. Ter-Khachatryan also underlined the need for Armenian organizations to intensify their cooperation with the peoples supportive of Hay Dat and struggling against Turkey. “Of importance is also close cooperation with world mass media and analytical agencies to bring the truth about the Armenian Cause to the international community,” Ter-Khahchatryan said.

T.P.