PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: cathcil@cathcil.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

ARAM I MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
On Saturday the 5th of March, His Holiness Aram I held a meeting with the
president of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulus. Archbishop
Varoujan Hergelian, Catholicosal Vicar of the Diocese of Cyprus, Bedros
Kalaidjian, representative of the Armenian Community of Cyprus, Archbishop
Nourhan Manougian of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and
representatives from the Diocese of Cyprus accompanied the delegation led by
His Holiness.

Various issues were discussed during the meeting, which lasted over an hour.
His Holiness commended the president for his desire to hold the meeting even
though the day was a holiday. Aram I, who was meeting the president for the
first time, congratulated Papadopoulus for his election as president and
expressed the support of the Armenian Community of Cyprus and the
Catholicosate of Cilicia. The president spoke about the centuries-old ties
between Cyprus and the Catholicosate of Cilicia. He highly praised the
loyalty and hard work of the Armenian Community, one of the important
communities of Cyprus.

His Holiness praised the president and the people of Cyprus for adopting a
brave stance against Turkish pressures and defending the rights of the Greek
and Christian communities of Cyprus. Referring to the UN-led effort to
reunify Cyprus, Aram I said that although the proposed plan included certain
positive terms, some of its aspects presented a potential threat to the
integrity, security and sovereignty of Cyprus.

His Holiness informed the president of the public statements made by the
World Council of Churches in the last few years in favor of the unity and
sovereignty of Cyprus.

The Cypriot president welcomed the approach of His Holiness Aram I and spoke
with detail about the danger posed by the proposed reunification plan. He
stressed that he will at all times defend the principle of protecting the
security and integrity of Cyprus. The president added that he is closely
acquainted with the efforts of His Holiness Aram I in favor of the Cyprus
issue, especially in the ecumenical spheres and praised those efforts.

His Holiness and Papadopoulus also spoke about the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. Aram I said that the Greeks and Armenians, subject to
persecution and genocide by the Turks in the past, are also subjected to
different pressures by the Turks today.

“The cause of our two nations is a cause of justice. Therefore, we should
continue our cooperation and support in a more organized manner,” said His
Holiness. He emphasized the importance of better-organized cooperation
between the Armenian and Greek lobbies of the United States and Europe. The
president welcomed the proposal and highlighted the importance of working
together to overcome Turkish pressures. His Holiness Aram I pointed out that
Turkey’s entry into the EU can cause serious problems for Europe in the
future and concluded that it is essential to cooperate in this sphere as
well.

Issues related to the Armenian Community of Cyprus were also discussed
during the meeting. His Holiness commended the president for the Cypriot
government’s support of the Armenian community, especially in the
educational sphere. He welcomed the plan to construct a monument in Larnaca,
expressing gratitude for the Greek-Cypriots’ support of the Armenian people.
His Holiness brought to the attention of the president the current situation
of the Armenian prelacy and the church in the part occupied by Turkish
forces. He emphasized the importance of their restoration through UN
efforts. The president expressed his willingness to further support the
Armenian communities in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limasol.

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.