What, and who, is the ARF?

"Artsvik Minasyan stated that people give little to the Dashnaktsutyun, but they demand very much." (Lragir, May 26)
An interesting statement. Its unclear, in the English and Armenian articles, what this refers to exactly, and I can't find the original quote anywhere, or in the video. It seems he is referring to votes/support (not getting enough), or expecting the ARF to burden more than their share (1/8th) of the blame, or something else. What I do get from watching the video on Lragir is the sense that the ARF feels entitled - to be appreciated and revered by Armenians, to be considered free of any true or significant wrongdoing, because, after all, they are the ARF.

This is neither surprising, nor new. The ARF seems to think it is the center not only of the identity of all Armenians, but of the moral fiber of Armenians - that they are the great protectors of the Armenian people. Here is an example of an Asbarez article from May 8:

... The normalization of relations with Turkey is a historic moment []... The ARF, by reassuming its traditional, role takes center stage in this process. It becomes essentially the watchdog, the last line of defense, protecting both the future of the country and of all Armenians. As the only effective counterbalance to the present administration in Yerevan, the ARF has put the administration on notice that it will monitor the government’s actions, propose alternative strategies, and publicly evaluate the national security issues that may be adversely impacted by the direction the negotiations appear to be going.

Their claims to fame are in the past, and their actions in the present speak for themselves. As the coordinator of the Hnchagyan Party answered in a recent interview:

Q: The ARF Dashnaktsutyun, before the election, left the coalition and became opposition. What do you think, will the Dashnaktsutyun be able to be an alternative for the Armenian National Congress?

A: I think that it is even ridiculous to think about it. I don’t want to say anything bad about the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, but we all saw how the Dashnaktsutyun became opposition before each election. Though, it is strange, that after becoming opposition and leaving the coalition the Dashnaktsutyun is not ready to struggle against Serge Sargsyan’s actions and policy, which he leads in connection with Turkey. They have to prove that they are struggling for the future of Armenia. So, I think that today the political force, which would be able to compete with the HAK, lacks.

But somehow, the ARF still thinks it has the backing and foundation, the credibility, to make this statement:

“Dashnaktsutyun is ready and able to force the authorities to make immediate revisions in the current policy,” warned the statement. “Furthermore, it is ready to come to power and do that with its own responsibility.”

And this just a day after a pretty damning article in the New York Times about the ARF in Lebanon, and its decision to support Hezbollah in the upcoming elections in Lebanon. (Of course, the timing of the article itself is interesting, too). This decision raises so many questions, that if you don't agree its a problem on one level, you'll see its a problem on another. After all, the ARF is supposedly based in Armenia, right?

The fact is, they are not the party they once were.
They are not the true nor the worthy descendants of Mikaelyan, Zavaryan, and Zoryan.