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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE CHRISTIAN LEAGUE

His Holiness Aram I received a delegation from the Christian League of
Lebanon on November 15. The main purpose of the delegation’s visit to
Antelias was to hold talks on the upcoming presidential elections in
Lebanon. Earlier that day the League had met with Patrairch Sfeir of the
Maronites and was scheduled to hold a meeting later with Bishop Aoude
(Primate of the Greek Orthodox community of Beirut).

The delegation briefed the Catholicos on its meeting with Patriarch Sfeir.
The visitors asked the Armenian Pontiff about his views concerning the
worrying situation vis-à-vis the elections. His Holiness summarized his
thoughts in the following points:

The presidential election must be held within the constitutionally provided
deadline at any price.

Lebanon is a country of coexistence, harmony and balanced approaches.
Despite due respect to democratic principles, it is necessary to elect the
president by consensus.

The elected president should be the president of all the Lebanese, keeping
an equal distance from all communities and effectively representing Lebanon
within the international community.

In relation to the preparation of a list of candidates by the Patriarchate
in Bekerke, The Catholicos expressed some concerns while affirming the
importance of joint efforts with Bekerke and all the Christian communities
of Lebanon in order to bring the country out of its current stalemate.

During the past few days, the Pontiff has received numerous phone calls from
political leaders and presidential candidates for consultations on the
situation in Lebanon.

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.