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THE PATRIARCH RECEIVES MEMBERS OF THE USA CONGRESS

On Wednesday morning, 30 May 2007, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, received a delegation of members
of the USA Congress in the Spiritual Council room of the
Patriarchate. USA Consul-General in Istanbul Deborah K. Jones also
attended the meeting.

During their meeting His Beatitude the Patriarch said the Armenian
Patriarchate of Istanbul was a fruit of interreligious dialogue since,
as a first in world history, it was established by Sultan Fatih
Mehmet, a Muslim ruler. His Beatitude the Patriarch informed the
delegation that the Istanbul Patriarchate was one of the four
hierarchical centers of the Armenian Church, the others being in
Etchmiadzin, Beirut, and Jerusalem. His Beatitude the Patriarch said
that he carries out all of his duties relating to the Armenian
community of Turkey as citizens of the Republic of Turkey. He declared
that the Armenians of Turkey are loyal citizens.

Other topics discussed in the meeting were the Armenian Genocide
Bill being pushed by Armenians in the United States, the Hrant Dink
assassination, the murder of the priest Father Santoro in Trabzon, the
massacre of Protestants in Malatya, the Bill on Foundations that was
vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Turkish-Armenian relations,
and the Turkish-Armenian joint Historical Research initiative
advocated by Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan.

In response to a question of one of the members of Congress, His
Beatitude the Patriarch responded as follows. `From the perspective of
both Turkish-Armenia bilateral relations, and relations between the
Armenians of Turkey and the Turkish public, we are not positive about
the Armenian Genocide Bill before the US Congress. But we also don’t
deny historical facts. The position taken by the Party of Unity and
Progress in punishing all Armenians of Turkey, and not just those
Armenian groups who had taken up arms against the government, can
never be forgiven. One and a half million Armenian citizens perished
in the deserts of Syria, and today in our country there are only
70,000 Armenians. It should also not be forgotten that at the time of
the deportation our ethnic Armenian citizens said they were Muslims in
order to be saved from banishment. They still speak Armenian and live
the Armenian culture, and we count them as part of us even if their
religion is different. On the other hand, we cannot approve of the
endeavours of the Armenian Diaspora concerning these historical
events. We are citizens of the Republic of Turkey, and we are engaged
in business and social activities in Turkey with our Turkish Muslim
neighbours. We do not want to see our favourable relationships with
our Turkish Muslim neighbours damaged by this draft bill. It is time
now to develop more future-oriented policies. The Republics of Turkey
and Armenia share a common border today. Since there is no question of
altering these borders, Armenians in Turkey are very much interested
in treaties between these two countries. We are tied to the Republic
of Turkey by the bonds of citizenship. But we also have cultural and
religious ties to the Republic of Armenia. We want nothing other than
peace and harmony for the Armenians of Turkey. The Diaspora’s
combative approach will act to upset things.’

The members of the visiting delegation thanked His Beatitude the
Patriarch for his views. After a souvenir photograph was taken, and
then a visit to the Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Basilica, the group
departed from Kumkapi.