Patriarch’s speech postponed under US Armenian pressure
Today’s Zaman
21.09.2007
News
A theological center at Georgetown University has indefinitely
postponed a presentation by Patriarch Mesrob II (Mutafyan), the
spiritual leader of Turkey’s Armenian Orthodox community, citing
"logistical conflicts" as the reason.
Yet statements by an influential lobby group of the Armenian diaspora
in the United States clearly indicate that the reason for the
postponement was strong pressure from the Armenian diaspora, which is
at odds with the conciliatory attitude of Mesrob II concerning the
Armenian allegations of genocide.
The presentation by Mesrob II entitled "The Impasse between Turks and
Armenians Must Be Broken" was scheduled to take place at the Woodstock
Theological Center of Georgetown University on Thursday afternoon. The
presentation was to be a joint activity held in collaboration with the
Rumi Forum, established by Turks living in Washington, D.C., to
enhance inter-religious and intercultural dialogue.
The influential Armenian National Committee of America recently sent a
letter to all members of the US Congress regarding the ongoing visit
of the Armenian patriarch, Armenian media reported. Meanwhile,
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram
Hamparian told the Armenian media that the letter stressed the
following: "The patriarch — like the leaders of all religious
minorities in Turkey — lives in constant fear of acts of
discrimination and retribution by a Turkish government that actively
persecutes those who speak freely on human rights and other
‘sensitive’ issues. As a virtual hostage, the patriarch — whose life
has been threatened on many occasions — will, as he has in the past,
be forced to follow the Turkish government’s line. It is truly
shameful that Turkey has resorted to using coercion — cynically
taking advantage of the concern of Patriarch Mesrob for the safety of
his flock — in a last ditch attempt to block the adoption of the
Armenian genocide resolution."
Two separate resolutions are pending in the US Senate and House of
Representatives urging the administration to recognize the World War
I-era killings of Anatolian Armenians as genocide. Turkey has warned
that passage of the resolutions in the US Congress would seriously
harm relations with Washington and hence impair cooperation in Iraq
and Afghanistan. The US administration has said it is opposed to the
resolution, but the congressional process is an independent one.
"The Armenian genocide resolution pending in the US Congress disrupts
both the relations between Turkish people and Armenians in Turkey and
between Turkey and Armenia," Mesrob II said in an exclusive interview
published in Today’s Zaman on Monday.
Source: =detay&link=122737
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
