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:

&quo t;CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM SPIRITUAL LEADERS
APPEAL FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE"

Declared HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

Speaking to the press after the meeting of the spiritual Heads of the
Christian and Muslim communities in Lebanon, His Holiness Aram I, the head
of the Armenian Orthodox Community said: "This is the true Lebanon; this
togetherness of Muslim and Christian Spiritual leaders concretely manifest
the real image of Lebanon. This very meeting by itself is a living message.
It is a message of the crucial importance of coexistence; it is a message of
peace with justice; it is a message of compassion tolerance and mutual
respect. In fact, violence is not the way to solve problems. Dialogue,
mutual understanding and compromise based on justice and peace for all, is
the most efficient way of dealing with complex issues and situations".

Referring to the meeting of religious Heads, His Holiness Aram I said:
"Together with one voice in our joint declaration we appealed for immediate
ceasefire and cessation of all hostilities. We expressed our full support to
all actions and initiatives taken by the government of Lebanon. We
emphasized the importance of the expansion of the state’s authority over all
the territories of Lebanon. It is our firm expectation that international
community and particularly the United Nations will act decisively to stop
violence and help Lebanon to recover itself".

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.