VARDAN OSKANIAN ACCORDED HEARTY WELCOME AT ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 26, 2007

ISTANBUL, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A luxurious
reception was organized in honor of the RA Foreign Minister,
Vardan Oskanian, in the evening of June 24 in the garden of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople. According to the Marmara
daily of Istanbul, representatives of various organizations of the
Armenian community of Istanbul, intellectuals, and journalists had
been invited. Salbi Ghazarian, an Adviser at RA Foreign Ministry,
Karen Mirzoyan, the Resident Representative of Armenia at the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation organization, and Vazgen Parn, the Deputy
Mayor of Shishli, were present.

After the welcome speech by the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople,
Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian, Vardan Oskanian expressed satisfaction
with his being in Istanbul and in the Patriarchate. Touching upon
the relations between Turkey and Armenia, the Foreign Minister said
that the border door between the two countries has not opened so
far. Oskanian assured that Armenia has repeatedly expressed its
readiness in this issue and supports opening the borders without
any precondition and establishment of normal relations between the
two countries.

Instead, the Armenian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction in
connection with the activization of relations between the Armenian
communities of Turkey and Armenia. He said that now more Armenians of
Istanbul visit Armenia and strengthen their ties with their native
land. V. Oskanian said that under the directorship of the Patriarch
a well-organized and able-bodied Armenian community is acting in
Istanbul. The community survives thanks to keeping its national
institutions. "Life in the Diaspora is not easy for the Armenian
people, it is not easy to live far from their homeland. However, the
Armenians of Istanbul have their unique conditions and traditions,"
the RA Foreign Minister said.

V. Oskanian said that he is aware of the latest events in the
community.

"Peaceful periods are sometimes followed by stormy ones. Hrant Dink’s
murder was painful for everybody and most of all for the Armenian
community of Istanbul. If he were alive, he would also be here now,"
he said.

The RA Foreign Minister wished success to the community saying
that Armenia develops day by day, and everything is being done for
Armenia to become a source of inspiration for our compatriots living
in the Diaspora.

V. Oskanian’s speech finished with a storm of applause. Then he,
accompanied by the Patriarch, visited the Patriarchate Museum and
bade farewell to those present. Everybody was applauding.

It should be mentioned that the RA Foreign Minister had arrived in
Istanbul in the morning of June 24 to take part in the Summit of the
BSEC organization.