Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Prime Minister attends opening of “Crisis in Syria: Challenges for Faith Communities” international conference
Chaired by His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and attended by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, “Crisis in Syria: Challenges for Faith Communities” two-day international conference kicked off today at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Convened through the initiative of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the event was also attended by WCC Secretary-General, Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit.
The conference was opened with the Lord’s Prayer and blessings of His Holiness Garegin II, after which a speech was delivered by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. Greeting the audience on behalf of his government and himself, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the conference might promote political and inter-religious dialogue in Syria.
In his speech, the Prime Minister stated in part, “With great pain and sorrow we have been witnessing the protracted political crisis in the Middle East and, in Syria, in particular. Turning into a civil war, it caused numerous innocent victims and irreparable losses. Coupled with the manifestations of religious extremism, the Syrian crisis affected the Christian churches, too, as an attempt was made to give the problem a religious character. Any such attempt is to be blamed since we believe that all religions advocate peace.
Throughout its centuries-old history, the Armenian nation has paid a heavy price of blood to enjoy peace and independence. The Armenian authorities are making huge efforts to find a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the Karabakh conflict, based on the internationally accepted principles and norms, while at the same time respecting the legitimate right of the people of Artsakh to live in freedom and sovereignty.
Being two halves of a single nation, we were subjected to genocide early in the 20th century due to which we lost our historical homeland in Western Armenia. On the eve of the Armenian Genocide 100th anniversary commemoration, our people suffered another bitter pain when earlier this year, strong with Turkey’s outright support, the radical groups seized the mostly Armenian-populated Kessab town in Syria.
Tomorrow you will be visiting the Armenian Genocide Memorial and pray for the martyrs who at the outset of the 20th century fell a pray to the act of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkey. At the Genocide Museum, you will see lots of evidence of how a large number of Syrian officials, including Muslim leaders, stood up against the Turkish government’s decision and defended the Armenians, granting them shelter in Aleppo, Damascus and other Syrian cities. Our people will never forget it.”
Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the recent presidential election in Syria may promote dialogue to solve the existing problems and rebuild the country. The Prime Minister wished the participants every success and fruitful work.
Scheduled for June 11-12, 2014, the conference is attended by Christian Church representatives from the Middle East, Syria, Russia, the U.S. and Europe.
The forum agenda features issues stemming from the following main topics: “Political developments in Syria and humanitarian outlook,” “Christian presence and evidence in the Middle East in the light of developments in the Arab world,” “Prospects for Armenian communities in the Middle East and Syria.”
