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:
HIS HOLINESS CONSIDERS UNITY AND DEMOCRACY AS TOP PRIORITIES
In a statement made to the media on May 11 His Holiness spoke about the
current political situation in Lebanon and assured that unity and democracy
are priorities that should be considered above anything else.
“Lebanon faces one of the most sensitive and critical times of its
contemporary history. This transitory period is full of both positive and
negative aspects, as well as both new hopes and new dangers,” said His
Holiness, just before departing for Iran on an official trip.
Speaking about people’s power, His Holiness said: “The Lebanese took to the
streets with slogans such as freedom, sovereignty, unity and truth. The
people want a different Lebanon; a Lebanon with a new political culture,
democratic principles, moral values and a Lebanon governed by new political
leaders. If all this is not accomplished in the near future, all the
embraces, statements, visits and meetings become temporary and superficial
gestures.”
His Holiness emphasized the importance of internal unity as a priority above
anything else. “Lebanon’s internal unity should be strengthened before
anything else. Today Lebanon is set to fix itself. One should steer clear of
all personal, party-related and one sided interests, and firmly hold on to
Lebanon’s collective and supreme interests. The Lebanese should reaffirm
their loyalty to those basic values and principles that constitute Lebanon’s
firm basis and its unique identity. Therefore, it is not acceptable for
political leaders to chase personal interests; it is not acceptable that
they exploit the feelings of the people as well as those of the country’s
communities. Lebanon’s unity should become a principal priority for all of
us,” he said.
The Catholicos also spoke about the upcoming elections and underlined the
importance of strengthening democracy in Lebanon. “Besides unity, it’s
imperative to strengthen democracy in Lebanon. Lebanon has its own
understanding of democracy that is based on its internal system. True
democracy should be responsive to the society’s realities and internal
system. Lebanon is proud that it remains the best example of democracy in
the Arab World. But it’s essential for Lebanon’s democracy to transform into
a more people-oriented democracy,” said His Holiness.
“The first principle of democracy is the participation of the people and the
direct election of its representatives. We had already stated in 2000 that
the current electoral law does not meet all the requirements of democracy.
It creates unjust and sensitive situation. Driven by these same principles
and out of concern for strengthening internal unity, we have considered and
still consider the review of the 2000 law as essential,” continued His
Holiness.
His Holiness concluded his statement by calling for “the development of a
new political culture.”
“The political culture that has been inherited from past decades is fake,
corrupt and has developed around “zaim”s. It has been a culture, where the
people have been absent. The Lebanese people and particularly the youth
should develop a new political culture; one which would be based on people’s
power, one that will be governed not by individuals or political parties or
by the interests of this or that community, one that would be driven by the
interests of Lebanon as a whole; a culture that would be based on basic
moral values, and on the principles of responsibility and particularly
accountability. Lastly, the Lebanese should develop such a political culture
that contributes to further deepening and developing Lebanon’s internal
cohesion and cohabitation. In order to develop such a culture, we need new
political figures, new voices, and new leaders with clear vision” concluded
His Holiness Aram I.
##
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.