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:
"RELIGION HAS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN BRINGING ABOUT
PEACE WITH JUSTICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST"
States His Holiness Aram I
His Holiness Aram I stated today in the context of an interview that: "The
military escalation in the Middle East has not only deepened the conflict,
but has also given a new dimension to it. In Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon one
can discern the emerging signs of inter-confessional and sectarian tensions"
.
His Holiness strongly criticized Israel’s continuing war against Lebanon.
He said: "Children, women and elderly becoming wounded, orphaned, homeless
and displaced, innocent people are killed and international community is
still discussing whether a ‘cease-fire’ or ‘cessation of hostilities’ must
be declared. Aram I pointed out that "peaceful negotiations and not
indiscriminate use of force is the way for resolving conflict".
His Holiness questioned "face-value judgments, one-sided approaches and
biased attitudes" that have been put forth as political solutions to the
problems in the Middle East. He asked: "Will the creation of a security zone
in the South of Lebanon solve the conflict in Lebanon? Will Iraq find peace
and unity through its democratically elected government? If the Hamas
government were to recognize the existence of Isreal, would the peace
process regain its momentum?" He suggested that these political solutions
alone would not bring sustainable peace to the region.
Criticizing any short-sighted policy towards the Middle East, Catholicos
Aram I went on to say that he believes that religion could help establish a
permanent and comprehensive peace in the region. He said: "If we read the
signs of the time, we see that the conflicts in the different parts of the
Middle East are deeply rooted in religious, ethnic and idiological
perceptions and convictions". According to His Holiness, religions must
speak out and together act firmly. He spelled out how the three monotheistic
religions, namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam, can and should play a
major role by "1) stopping violence in all its forms and expressions, 2)
promoting mutual understanding and mutual trust among peoples and
communities; 3) working for peace with justice for all; 4) and challenging
and leading communities and peoples of the region towards reconciliation,
through mutual forgiveness and acceptance".
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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.