MUTAFYAN DISAGREES WITH CATHOLICOS ON GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.06.2006 12:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop
Mesrob Mutafyan told reporters Wednesday that he did not agree
with statements made by His Holiness Garegin II, the Catholicos
of All Armenians regarding the need for the Turkish recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. Mutafyan proposed that the "1915 issue" be
addressed by historians and sociologists in order for the sides to
"understand each other’s sensitivities."

During a pontifical visit to Istanbul, Catholicos Garegin II said
the Genocide was not a debatable issue for Armenians and it is a fact
that Turkey should recognize. The Turkish press reacted adversely to
this statement, with one newspaper-the Hurriyet-characterizing the
Catholicos’ visit as a protest demonstration. Mutafyan said that the
Catholicos’ statements were not unexpected and since his pontifical
visit was being covered by the Armenian media and would be seen by the
Diaspora communities, "the Catholicos spoke taking into consideration
Diasporan sensitivities," reported Marmara newspaper.

To note, during his visit to Istanbul Garegin II said the Armenian
Genocide is not a topic of discussion and must be recognized by Turkey.

It should also be noted that since the times of the Ottoman Empire
the Constantinople Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church sis
appointed by the Turkish government but not by Holy Echmiadzin.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress