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

Public Statement

World Council of Churches and Middle East Council of Churches
Public Hearing
"The Changing Ecclesial Context: Impact of Migration on Living Together"

Armenian Catholicossate of the Holy See of Cilicia – Antelias
Beirut, Lebanon: 14 – 16 April 2008-04-15

Migration is a fact of life. It is as much an instinct to survive as it is
an inevitable consequence of globalisation. We can neither turn our backs on
it, nor control it. It will have decisive consequences for the world as we
know it and a massive impact on the church and the ecumenical movement both
at the local, regional and global levels. We need not, however, react with
hysteria and fear. Migration is as much a part of who we are as it is a part
of the history that has shaped us.

However, if states continue to speak only of ‘migration’ and not ‘migrants’,
then migrants will continue to be exploited as nothing more than cheap
labour for factories or slave labour for construction sites. If populist
politicians and media outlets continue to brand migrants and refugees as
‘illegals’, ‘aliens’, ‘queue jumpers’ and ‘bogus’ asylum seekers, then
migrants will continue to suffer from the racist, discriminatory and
xenophobic undercurrents in every society. If we as churches only see
migrants as victims, then we undermine their strengths and their resilience.
If source countries only consider emigration as a loss – a brain drain –
then migrants will be discouraged from returning and the potential ‘brain
gain’ will be lost.

Lebanese representatives stressed the fact that the migration of Lebanon’s
youth affects all Lebanese people and that to address the phenomena of
Lebanon’s loss of educated youth, all facets of Lebanese society must come
together to share their perspectives and articulate a vision for the future
of Lebanon.

A reoccurring theme throughout the Hearing, and one that was keenly felt,
was the impact of migration on the Christian presence in the Middle East.

Much of the public debate about migration is couched in terminology which is
loaded and derogatory. People trying to enter another country are vilified
as "illegal immigrants", "gate-crashers", "queue-jumpers", and even as
"invaders" seeking to breach the defences of a country with malicious
intent. The clear implication is that they are "abusing the system" and
"exploiting our generosity" and ought to be punished and deterred, with
strong-armed politicians leading the public charge. But they also create the
impression that migrants have no right to enter, and indeed, no rights at
all, justifying harsh detention centres, deportations and the like. Adding
to this, the September 11 attacks in the USA not only encouraged the
demonising of migrants by labelling them as security threats, but also made
it less likely that people will stick their neck out to defend migrants. Yet
this demonisation and scaremongering only perpetuates a vicious cycle,
driving migrants back into their communities for protection, and making it
harder for them to integrate.

Given their precarious legal position in the host country, irregular migrant
workers easily fall prey to extortion and are highly vulnerable to abuse and
exploitation by unscrupulous employers, migration agents and labour brokers,
corrupt bureaucrats and even criminal gangs. Those committing such abuses –
including human traffickers, sweat shop and brothel owners – know that they
will rarely be held to account as irregular migrants fear drawing official
attention to themselves, as they may risk arrest or deportation, and are
thus reluctant to turn to the authorities to enforce respect for their
rights. Indeed, it is the very fact that irregular migrants are vulnerable
and that perpetrators are unlikely to be held accountable that allows, and
even encourages, the crime and corruption states wish to combat. The same
crimes that are so commonly blamed on the presence of ‘foreigners’.

While we continue to only see the impact of migration in narrow terms, we
will fail to come to grips with the economic potential of migrants; the role
remittances play in supporting families, stabilising countries during
emergencies, and providing the vital capital needed for developing
economies.

Beyond hospitality, however, the churches must be a strong advocate and
defender of the rights of people to move freely within their own nations and
when driven by poverty, insecurity and persecution, to leave their homes in
search of their God given right to life with dignity.

The church has a responsibility to ensure that public opinion is properly
informed on the root causes of migration and the factors that force people
to leave their homes. We must confront racism, discrimination and xenophobia
wherever and whenever it manifests itself; in churches, in our communities
and our nations.

Migrants are not commodities, illegal aliens or mere victims. They are human
beings. Migrant rights are human rights. We must respect the human dignity
of every migrant and give holistic consideration to their needs, their
strengths and the economic, social and cultural contributions they make to
society. Above all, we must stand in solidarity with migrants and migrant
churches, accompany them and include them in the decision-making that
effects and governs their lives.

Throughout this Hearing, participants were challenged by the complexities
and sheer scale of migration, but they were heartened by the good will and
common goals shared by Christian and Muslim leaders, and Lebanon’s Islamic
and Christian communities. We call upon the churches to not only recognise
the need to collaborate with other faiths, but were challenged to deepen and
strengthen inter-faith dialogue and cooperation on migration.

The Public Hearing, which was hosted by the Middle East Council of Churches,
brought together the World Council of Churches, Churches Commission for
Migrants in Europe, the All Africa Conference of Churches, the Christian
Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in Australia, the
Initiative for Justice and Peace, CAIROS, Canada, and representatives from
Church World Service, Church of Sweden, Christian World Service Australia.
Open to the public it drew participation from young Christians in the Middle
East, researchers, professors from the Middle Eastern University,
politicians and diplomats, civil society and community organisations.

The Public Hearing on Migration and the Changing Ecclesial Landscape in
Beirut, Lebanon, was the first of eight hearings on the Migration, which
will take place over the next few years in different regions of the world.
It was followed by a two-day meeting of the Global Ecumenical Network on
Migration, which brings together regional ecumenical organisations, churches
and Christian humanitarian organisations working on migration issues around
the globe.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos245.htm
*****
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.