PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.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: nian.htm
Ms. Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
US Congress
Washington DC
Dear Ms. Pelosi,
I salute from the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in
Antelias, Lebanon, the courageous step taken by the House Foreign Affairs
Committee in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Indeed, this
decision of the Committee is a concrete and genuine manifestation of the
deep concern of the United States of America in respect to human rights
and all forms of crimes against humanity, including genocide.
The Armenian Genocide is a fact of history. Not only is itdeeply rooted
in the common memory of the Armenian people but also well substantiated by
historical documents and eye-witness accounts. The formal recognition of
such crimes against humanity is indispensable in order to avoid new
genocides. Hence, the resolution of the Committee is a right response to
this sad page of the history of the Turkish-Ottoman Empire.
The Cilician Catholicosate of the Armenian Church has been, with its
people and institutions, a victim of this Genocide. The Martyrs’ Chapel,
the Museum and the thousands of archives existing within the confines of
the Catholicosate, are tangible proofs of the Armenian Genocide planned
and executed by the Ottoman-Turkish authorities in 1915.
I greatly appreciate the action taken by the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, and it is my firm expectation that the entire Congress will
soon adopt the said resolution.
I would like to seize this opportunity to express my high appreciation to
you for your many years of committed support towards the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.
May God bless you and your colleagues.
Prayerfully,
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA