PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
Website: 
September 18, 2006

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ADDRESSED TO THE THIRD ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE
18-20 September 2006, Yerevan

Your Excellency Mr. President,
Dear Brother in Christ,
and Beloved Participants of this Conference,

The convening of the third "Armenia-Diaspora" Conference under the festive
light of the 15th anniversary of re-established statehood for Armenia and
Artsakh, has filled our souls with joy.  With thanksgiving and praise to
God, we have come to welcome you, the honorable participants, and extend the
blessings of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to the deliberations of this
conference.

Our motherland is once again united with her children in the same hopes and
aspirations, and also with the belief that together, we shall traverse a new
path of progress toward prosperity for our people; toward strengthening of
our spiritual and national life.

The difficulties and triumphs of the past fifteen years belong to all our
people.  All of our people, those living in our homeland and those dispersed
throughout the world, experienced the elation of independence, and in equal
measure, confronted the dangers threatening our freedom; we equally bore the
difficulties on the path of sovereignty and the creation of statehood; and
together won the victories and successes.  Let us offer glory to God, that
He blessed the undivided efforts, love and devotion of our people to
re-establish the independent statehood of our homeland.

Every generation has its imperative.  Today we are living in a remarkably
important epoch of our history.  The time has come, that our present
capabilities, which are greater through the free and independent life of our
homeland and the unobstructed ties with our diaspora, completely and
perfectly serve the prosperity, unity and solidarity of our people and the
renaissance of spiritual and national life everywhere.  It is this outlook
which today inspires us and directs our paths.  Our gathering is called to
pursue this supreme goal and to face the present obligation.  Yes, the
possibilities to freely work are greater than they were fifteen years ago,
however the urgent issues which trouble us are not few.  The time has come,
and we can no longer delay.  In our contemporary world, in the political
realm, in the rapid development of science, technology and communication, in
the hour-by-hour narrowing gap between economies and cultures, the Armenian
people must be in the forefront, and they shall turn their hopes for a
peaceful and creative life into reality through a strong state and a vibrant
Diaspora.  When, at present, there are great changes in the communities of
the Diaspora – some getting smaller, new ones being formed – the creation of
a new structure for maintaining the Armenian identity is becoming imperative
to meet these developments.  The construction of new churches and schools,
the complete and total reorganization of education, and the triumph over the
unnatural situation facing our Church life which was inherited by this
generation, have all become essential.

Before us all today is the imperative to reinforce Armenia and Artsakh, to
secure in every manner well-armed and competent armed forces, and to insure
progress in all realms.  The just rights of Artsakh have yet to be
recognized, and the threat to renew hostilities against our people
continues.  There are positive developments in our homeland in the economic,
social, educational and cultural spheres; however, poverty, unemployment,
under-employment and the export of our labor force remain undefeated.  The
villages and rural settlements are in a state of need and vulnerability. 
The plans for their improvement and better future are the aims for this
conference.  We welcome the initiative to improve the rural settlements,
which today have a pivotal significance in the development of the economic
and social life of our country and the well-being of our people.  Together
we shall find the correct answers and decisions to all imperatives with a
unified spirit, through the united efforts of national and ecclesiastical
organizations, and possessing the power of our free statehood.  During the
recent events in Lebanon, the importance of the support through our state
policy was evident.  So that the role our state plays in any situation be
greater, we must see the vision of our developed homeland and prosperous
country as something near rather than far, and which in itself is the aim of
having independent statehood – to create and build in a free environment, to
form a secure and good life, and to freely express our spiritual vitality. 
The strength and progress of the homeland are the might and power of the
Diaspora as well.  For continuous centuries, in good times and bad, in
conditions of ease and difficulty, the Diaspora has lived and has been
maintained with the dream of seeing the homeland free and returning to her. 
Today the dream has become reality on this portion of our homeland, and the
faith in a free life for Armenia and Artsakh is also a reality, which shall
become for us the light which leads us forward.

We extend our Pontifical message and exhortation to all our people in
Armenia, Artsakh and dispersed throughout the world, to accomplish this
great and important homeland-building initiative of restoring villages and
rural settlements.  The Armenian Church as well shall bring her active
participation to the realization of this project, which will serve the
welfare and prosperity of our nation.  We believe that our children, as
always, will be standing in support of our homeland, and our people will
together build their native home, so that it may always be the sanctuary of
hope, the inspiration and axis of Armenian life, and the consolidating
strength of all Armenians.  Our people, proud with work, will forget about
misery on their native soil.  We shall present to our children a country
strong with a harmonious societal life, bright with the light of faith,
knowledge and culture – a Christian nation – philanthropic, humanitarian and
decent.  May God’s spirit of truth lead us all, and may our Lord’s grace and
strength be our helper, so that our plans and works bear good results and
victories, and from generation to generation, we shall tell the story of
God’s blessing in the lives of our people.

May the work and good initiatives of this conference be blessed.

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