Primate meets with new U.N. Secretary General

PRESS OFFICE
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Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
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Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
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January 9, 2007
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U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES ECUMENICAL EFFORTS WITH ARCHBISHOP
BARSAMIAN AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), was part of a three-man delegation of religious
leaders to meet with Ban Ki-moon, the new United Nations secretary-general,
on Monday, January 8, 2007, a the United Nations headquarters in New York
City.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier, president and founder of the Appeal of Conscience
Foundation, led the group, which also included Roman Catholic Theodore
Cardinal McCarrick of Washington, D.C. The Primate serves as a vice
president for the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, which works around the
globe to promote religious freedom and human rights.

"General-Secretary Ban knew about the Appeal of Conscience Foundation from
previous events and efforts," the Primate said. "So he welcomed us warmly
and thanked us for our work. He supports our mission of using
interrelations and interfaith dialogue to bridge civilizations."

The trio of religious leaders spoke with General-Secretary Ban on how the
religious community can help find solutions in areas such as the Middle
East, Lebanon, and Darfur.

"We told him we were ready to work in partnership with the United Nations to
help bring peace and understanding to the world," the Primate said. "We
offered him our prayers, and our support as he begins his tenure at the
United Nations."

— 1/9/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, joins other religious leaders from the Appeal of Conscience
Foundation in meeting with United Nations General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon on
Monday, January 8, 2007. (UN Photo/Mark Garten)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

www.armenianchurch.net
www.armenianchurch.net.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS