MESSAGE OF CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS KAREKIN II ON OCCASION OF MARCH 1 EVENTS

Noyan Tapan
March 3, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 3, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 3, the Information Services
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin spread the message of Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II on the occasion of the March 1 events. The
message read:

"Dear Armenian people!

Today our souls are filled with mourning. The Armenian people is
mourning over its perished sons. The spirit of intolerance, which was
shown in the presidential elections, resulted in disorders, in sad and
tragic clashes and confrontation. We had never thought that the natural
commonsense of our people will yield to hatred and hostility. Today
the whole Armenian people is alarmed, seeing that the unity of the
nation, peace, and security of the homeland are endangered.

Let us show commonsense, keep ourselves from the sense of hatred to our
brothers, from steps aggravating alarm. All issues and problems we are
anxious about should be solved in peace, legality, through a dialogue.

We all are responsible before the history and the generations. We
should not endanger the country’s stability with thoughtless steps. We
are sure that pinning our hopes on the God, bravely, with hope and
optimism we should overcome the formed difficult and complicated
situation, restore the well-being of our homeland.

We are praying for the souls of our perished sons and present our
condolences to their mourning families and relatives.

Let God be with us!"

According to the report of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, on
March 2, under the guidance of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II,
a requiem took place over the innocent victims of the Armenian people
as a result of the March 1 events in Yerevan.

His Holiness instructed the leaders of the dioceses to organize visits
and assistance to the families of the victims.