YEREVAN (Azg) – The Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (ADL) commemorated the 95th anniversary of its founding. The date coincided with the 25th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, and this is symbolic because the ADL structures of the diaspora have decided to move the party’s center to Armenia. This decision was taken by the representatives ADL Reform and Unity Movement and reconfirmed at the second (23rd) ADL Representative Assembly in Yerevan.
During the first week of October the third (24th) extraordinary ADL Representative Assembly of the Republic of Armenia took place. It not only buttressed the arrangements to create the party center in Armenia, but also accepted the report of the ADL Republican party executive and executed changes in the bylaws and structure of the party in order to bring the ADL’s activities into conformity with the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. It elected a new leadership, and defined the actions of the party in the near future in accordance with the new structure.
Two days of vigorous discussions preceded the assembly. On October 7, Hovik Ohanyan and Kevork Marashlian were elected as chairman and vice chairman of the assembly, and 117 out of 144 delegates participated and voted on the decisions taken.
The attitude already manifested in the words of greeting from Edmond Y. Azadian, vice chairman of the Reform and Unity Movement was dominant throughout the sessions. He spoke of the historical past of the party, pointing out the necessity of not only stressing successes, but of conducting self-criticism. Pointing out mistakes should not be an occasion for discouragement but on the contrary for overcoming challenges.
He said, “Let us once more gain mastery over what we are worthy of, and return to the upper ranks of authority.” Aside from this, the diaspora structures of the ADL must now act in the status of landlords as opposed to guests while in Armenia. Some of the diasporan structures approach the decision to be headquartered in Armenia with understanding, and make various compromises, though, as Azadian said, resolutely.
Hagop Avedikian, the chairman of the ADL executive committee of the Republic of Armenia, prepared his report in three parts—achievements, deficiencies, and what to do in the future. Among the achievements were the election of 10 out of 11 ADL candidates in the recent elections of local self-government bodies to various community councils of Yeghvard, Sevan, Yeghegnadzor, Sisian, Vardenis, Vanadzor, Spitak, and Shirak. In this way, after not participating in elections at various levels for a long time, the party solved the matter of self-confidence and self-affirmation, especially considering that the majority of those elected are young party members looking toward the future. Avedikian read the names of those elected and invited them to the podium in order to receive applause.
