PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
March 21, 2007
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DIOCESAN LEGATE PUSHES FOR DARFUR RELIEF
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), attended the Executive Committee
meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC), which took place in Geneva,
Switzerland, from February 26, to March 14, 2007.
The WCC represents 348 churches, and Archbishop Aykazian, a member of the
group’s Executive Committee, is the official representative of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This is the first time that the Holy See has been
represented in this august body by such a respected, global ecumenical
leader.
During the meetings, Archbishop Aykazian raised the question of recognizing
the on-going genocide in Darfur and acting to stop the violence and bring
relief and comfort to the victims.
"I asked the committee members to take very important actions to stop this
horrible thing that is going to destroy many thousands of people," said
Archbishop Aykazian, who is also the president-elect of the National Council
of Churches. "We are still studying the situation, seeing what can be done,
what can we do, what are the ways and means of doing these kinds of things."
During the session, Archbishop Aykazian said the WCC leaders also discussed
other challenges currently facing the world, including the need for churches
to be vigilant against nuclear proliferation. The governing body encouraged
the WCC member churches to continue communicating "an ethical and
theological perspective on nuclear arms to their governments" in order to
pursue the goals of "complete rejection of nuclear weapons."
The group also signaled its support for the recently-created United Nations
Peacebuilding Commission, which is designed to support post-conflict
stabilization initiatives, such as implementation of peace agreements and
prevention of the recurrence of conflict. It is also expected to extend the
period of attention by the international community to post-conflict
recovery.
Another issue that was discussed was the need to act to elevate poverty,
specifically in Africa. Fighting poverty will be one of the highlights of
the WCC agenda for the next seven years.
The next meeting of the WCC Executive Committee will take place in the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia from September 23 to 28, 2007.
The Executive Committee meets twice a year and is elected by the WCC Central
Committee, the chief governing body of the WCC.
— 3/21/07
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 Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical
officer of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
represented the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the recent meeting of the
World Council of Churches Executive Committee in Geneva, Switzerland.