ARF’S HISTORY ON PHOTOGRAPHS
By Sevak Hakobian
Yerkir.am
December 22, 2006
ARF’s Youth Union of Armenia organized a photo exhibition dedicated
to the 116th anniversary of ARF. The exhibition titled "My Past Is
the Cornerstone of My Future" was held at Moscow Cinema on December 20.
ARF’s history starting with 1890 up to our days was presented at the
exhibition. The exhibition aimed at showing to the youth the history
of ARF’s activities in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora through photos.
The items presented at the exhibition were collected by the young
people from personal archives and other sources. Some photos were
exhibited for the first time. In his opening remarks, Officer in
Charge of ARF’s Hay Dat and Political Issues Kiro Manoyan noted that
ARF’s cote d’arms tells everything about the party’s activities.
ARF’s history of 116 years has been so reach in activities that it
is impossible to present it fully at the photo exhibition. Despite
this fact, the exhibition depicted ARF’s activities in such a clear
way that anyone would get an idea of ARF’s activities. The exhibition
was divided into four parts.
The first part presented ARF’s history starting with its foundation
up to its activities in the Diaspora. It included photos of the Urfa
battle, the command unit of the Khansor battle (1897), soldiers of
Vaspurakan unit (1921), and many other military units that played an
important role in ARF’s history.
Photos of the party’s founders and activists were also presented here –
Rostom, Aram Manukian, Simon Vratsian, Stepan Tsaghikian, Nikol Duman,
Dro, Nikol Aghbalian, Garegin Nzhdeh and many others that devoted
their life to the difficult task of liberating the nation and were
the spirit of the liberation troops.
When ARF was exiled by the Soviets, it was widely active in the
Diaspora.
This phase of ARF’s activities was presented in the second part of
the exhibition. During this period, ARF carried out intellectual work,
and was at the same time engaged in self defense.
The activities of Hay Dat and youth organizations were partially
presented at the exhibition – a number of demonstrations, meetings,
marches, ARF’s self-defense troops in Lebanon, the April 24 march in
Beirut and many other historical events. Most importantly, Hay Dat
activities in different countries were presented. The independent
state is the key to solving the Hay Dat, Officer in Charge of ARF’s
Hay Dat activities Kiro Manoyan believes.
The third part of the exhibition presented the period of the liberation
war in Artsakh where ARF sacrificed many of its best soldiers.
The forth part tells about ARF’s activities after the independence
of the Third Armenian Republic was accomplished including the period
when the party’s activities were banned in the country.
Books and periodicals published by the ARF and its youth organizations
in Armenian communities in different countries were also presented
at the exhibition.
Member of ARF’s Supreme Board, head of ARF’s parliamentary faction
Hrayr Karapetian noted in addition to celebrating the ARF’s anniversary
in different countries of the world, our youth should be exposed to
these photos because ARF’s history is also the history of the entire
Armenian nation.
The exhibition dedicated to ARF’s 116th anniversary will be open
until December 25.