PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father 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:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I UNDERLINES THE NEED FOR MUTUAL TRUST FOLLOWING A VISIT
TO THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE DRUZE COMMUNITY
His Holiness Aram I paid an official visit Monday morning to the spiritual
leader of the Druze community in Lebanon, Sheikh Nayim Hassan. The purpose
of the visit was to congratulate Sheikh Hassan on the occasion of his
election. The meeting also provided an opportunity for the two spiritual
leaders to discuss the current situation in Lebanon.
The Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Archbishop
Gomidas Ohanian and the Armenian community’s representative in the
Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee, Dr. Jean Salmanian accompanied the
Pontiff during his visit.
The Catholicos made the following statement to the press after meeting with
his counterpart:
"During the meeting with Sheikh Nayim Hassan, we discussed the current
situation in Lebanon. The persistence of this situation can’t be tolerated
anymore. The country faces a serious economic crisis, the people find it
difficult to secure their daily living, the international community follows
with pain and concern the developments in Lebanon and we still continue to
further deepen and complicate the conflict.
We have said it before and we repeat today: Lebanon is a country of
coexistence, a family of communities. No side has the right to impose
itself. Problems should be solved with the spirit of coexistence and through
mutual compromise and dialogue. The scene in the street last week does not
conform to Lebanese values.
Should others tell us what to do, look for solutions for us? Don’t we have
the maturity to solve our family’s internal problems? Instead of feeding the
conflict with accusations against each other, we should sit around the
dialogue table.
I read in the press last week that most of the bridges destroyed by Israel
have already been reconstructed. This is a joyful achievement. However, it
is very sad, that while we’re reconstructing material bridges, we have
started to destroy the bridges deeply rooted in our souls. We should first
reconstruct the latter and these bridges can’t be rebuilt with foreign
assistance only, but with the collective faith, will and mutual trust of all
the Lebanese. It is essential that the bridges of mutual trust between the
members of the Lebanese family are strengthened through dialogue, compromise
and understanding. Let’s not wait for the other to do this; we should do
this. Let’s not wait for tomorrow; tomorrow might be too late."
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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.