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: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE MEETING OF THE "RELIGIONS
FOR PEACE" INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION IN EGYPT
The Middle East round table meeting of the "Religions for Peace"
international organization was convened in Alexandria on December 4-5. Forty
representatives from the three monotheistic religions came to Egypt from
different regions in the world to attend the meeting.
As an Honorary President of the "Religions for Peace" organization,
Catholicos Aram I was invited to personally participate in the meeting. The
Pontiff delegated Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer) to represent
the Armenian Church and the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the meeting.
The first day of the meeting featured presentation on the Helsinki Process,
a project initiated in 2002 (and still ongoing) by the governments of
Finland and Tanzania with the aim of preparing a collective response to the
challenges caused by globalization and the bridging of cooperation between
governments.
The General Secretary of "Religions for Peace" Dr. William Vendli presented
the cooperation between the organization and the "Helsinki Process",
inviting participants to make proposals for future cooperation.
The General Secretary of the "Helsinki Process", Illary Rantakari
highlighted the main aspects of the project’s achievements thus far and
underlined the important contribution to be brought by the religions of the
Middle East to understanding and seeking solutions to issues affecting all
of mankind.
Divided into four groups, the participants made practical proposals
regarding the establishment of a Middle East office for this international
organization, its structure and the activities it should undertake.
On the second day, the participants listened to accounts from four delegates
from the Holy Land about their daily experiences. Discussions focused on the
establishment of an inter-faith council in Palestine.
The delegates affirmed their readiness to deepen the spiritual, moral and
social cooperation between the religions of the Middle East- with the full
support of "Religions for Peace"- in order to advance justice, human rights,
peace and security.
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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.