PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

May 20, 2005
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DIOCESN LEGATE AND LEGATE COMMITTEE IS LEADING THE CHARGE FOR
REPOSSEISSION OF ARMENIAN CHURCHES IN GEORGIA

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) is urging
the American government to put pressure on the Republic of Georgia
to safeguard and return possession of Armenian churches there.

“We have been in touch with a number of people in leadership positions
worldwide,” said Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical
officer. “We are very much involved in finding a solution.”

When the Soviets took over Georgia in the 1920s, more than 600 Armenian
churches were seized by authorities. It was hoped that when Georgia
gained its independence, the Republic of Armenia would be able to
negotiate with its neighbor for the return of those buildings. That
has not happened.

Since 1990 an additional 35 Armenian churches have been seized and
stripped of their inscriptions and sacred images, which have been
replaced with Georgian inscriptions and paintings, and have been used
as Georgian sanctuaries.

“We are all hopeful that this will be resolved soon and peacefully,
so as to avoid any mistrust between our two peoples,” Bishop Aykazian
said. “We are hopeful that the United States will press on the
government of Georgia to register the Armenian churches and return
them to the Armenians.”

To that end, Bishop Aykazian met last month with Mathew Bryza, the
official in charge of the Caucasian and Central Asian desk in the
U.S. National Security Office, prior to President George Bush’s trip
to Georgia.

“I told him our relationship should always be good with the Georgians
and we don’t want to create any problems but that we believe this
issue should be solve soon and peacefully,” Bishop Aykazian said. “I
urged the administration to raise the issue with the Georgians.”

Bishop Aykazian said that Mr. Bryza promised to place this information
as well as Samvel Karapetyan’s book on the subject on the President’s
desk. He also said that President Bush was very interested in issues
concerning the civil and religious freedoms of the minorities in
Georgia, and that during his visit he will meet with representatives
of minority groups. Bishop Aykazian was awaiting a follow up meeting
with the White House following the President’s return from his
Georgian trip.

Bishop Aykazian also met last month in Armenia with Tom Samuelian
and Samvel Karapetyan, two experts on the matter. Legate’s Executive
Committee members Kevork Toroyan (Chairman), Cesar Chekijian, Michael
Haratunian, and Oscar Tatosian, have all been active conferring with
various active Armenian community members, such as Van Krikorian,
the Armenian Assembly, and Samvel Karapetyan to get their assistance
in compiling documentary evidence and seeking the support of the
U.S. State Department.

— 5/20/05

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