ARCHBISHOP MESROP MUTAFIAN: "I DO NOT SHARE THE SAME OPINION, BUT THE CATHOLICOS TOOK INTO ACCOUNT APPROACHES OF DIASPORA"

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 29 2006

ISTANBUL, JUNE 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian stated that his opinion
concerning the Armenian Genocide differs from one of Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians.

According to the Istanbul "Marmara" daily, Turk newspapers widely
touched upon the statement of His Holiness that the Armenian
Genocide is not a discussable and disputable issue, is a truth,
and Turkey must accept that truth. The "Hurriyet" daily informed
that when journalists asked the Constantinople Armenian Patriarch
what he thinks of the statement of the Catholicos of All Armenians,
Mesrop Patriarch answered:

"The Turk-Armenian relations did not involve only the years of
1890-1923.

The statement of His Holiness was expected for us. A correspondent
of the "Shoghakat" TV company arrived from Armenia was also present
at the Catholicos’ press-conference. So, all Diasporan Armenians were
watching that press-conference, so the Catholicos spoke, taking into
acount approaches of Diaspora. I have said earlier as well. It will be
good that the issue of 1915 is discussed by politicians, diplomates,
historians and sociologists, it will help that the sides understand
approaches of the opposite side."

Informing the news, "Hurriyet" promised to also publish Sefa Kaplan’s
voluminous interview with the Armenian Patriarch.