Christian Post, CA
April 28 2005

CEC President Attends Armenian Genocide Commemoration

The president of the Conference of European Churches commemorated the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

The President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), took part
in events commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide
in Erevan and Etchmiadzin, Armenia on Sunday.

The Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, president of the CEC, presented a
statement on the Armenian Genocide during which he urged the Turkish
government to initiate reconciliation between Turkish and Armenian
peoples by a `recognition of guilt and the proclamation of the
truth.’

He handed the statement in a private meeting to His Holiness Karekin
II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

At a ceremony in the cathedral of Erevan – which included the
president of Armenia, members of government, and a large congregation
– church representatives each offered prayers of intercession for the
others in their own language. Represented at the event were the
Orthodox Churches of Russia, Greece, Romania, and Syria along with
Anglican Churches.

The Reverend also said that CEC member churches considered a
recognition by Turkey of the 1915 genocide and the respect for the
values of the European Union to be pre-conditions for acceptance into
the EU, according to a statement by the CEC.

He said that the `atrocities’ which happened on the soil of modern
day Turkey, were `not only committed against Armenians but aso
against other Christian and ethnic minorities, in particuar Greek and
Syrian.’

In its statement, the CEC Presidium joined the World Council of
Churches in inviting all its member churches `to make April 24 a Day
of memory of the Armenian Genocide and to consider further
appropriate actions related to the 90 years commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide.’