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: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

"THE PARLIAMENT IS THE VOICE AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE"

STATED HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
In the Parliament of Catalonia, Spain

BARCELONA – "As the voice and the political will of the people, the
parliament should act with this sense of responsibility and accountability"
said His Holiness Aram I at the Parliament of Catalonia, Spain. "Religion as
well is the voice of the people, furthermore, it is called to be the voice
of God. If a parliament is accountable only to the people, the religion is
first and foremost accountable to God. But we are partners. Although there
exist a qualitative difference between religion and parliament as a
political institution, we must respect our differences, but we must work
together, because we have common objectives, namely the dignity, justice,
peace, human rights and well being of people".

In his intervention referring to the two references made by the president of
the Parliament in his welcoming speech, His Holiness Aram I emphasized the
pivotal importance of dialogue: "Dialogue is no more a conceptual notion; it
is part of our daily life. Dialogue is no more an initiative pertaining
exclusively to religions. All the stakeholders of civil society must engage
in dialogue. Indeed, dialogue is rejection of self centered existence. It is
opening ourselves to the others. It is interactive approach to the realities
and problems that we face in different spheres of our life. It is a firm
commitment to being together, reflecting and acting together, preserving our
distinctiveness and particularities as cultures, religions and nations.
Religion has a major role to play in promoting a culture of dialogue. Only
such a culture will become a source of peace, against violence. A source of
trust against hatred, a source of justice against injustice, a source of
living together as community against all trends which lead our societies to
disintegration and polarization".

Catholicos Aram I also criticized the crucial importance of integration in
the life of societies: "We must live as communities, not as a separate
groups co-existing side by side. If co-existence is not transformed into a
common life together, it may generate tension. What we need today is to
develop communities of integrated diversities. The role of religion in this
respect is critical. Religion could be both a source if integration and a
factor of disintegration. Religious leaders have a major role to promote the
positive role of religion, as bridge builder, community developer and
integration facilitator".

The second speaker was the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
President Khatami. Welcoming the particular emphasis laid by His Holiness
Aram I on the role of the Parliament, the necessity of dialogue and
integration, president Khatami in his turn developed the notion of the
parliament being the household of the people. He said in the parliament the
people should feel themselves at home and work for the well being of the
people in all spheres of its life.

The third speaker was Dr. Abdulaziz Otheman Altwaijiri. He stressed the
importance of dialogue of religions and cultures. He stated the commitment
of his organization to working together as partners, with all actors of
civil society for peace building, as well as for the promotion of cultural,
educational and human values.

At the end of the official ceremony the Speaker of the House presented
gifts to Catholicos Aram I, President Khatami and Dr. Altwaijiri.

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos234.htm
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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.