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

"IT IS THE LEBANESE COEXISTANCE THAT PREVAILED IN QATAR"
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

"Various interpretations were made about the agreement reached between the
Lebanese sides in Qatar; more will surely follow. For me, however, one thing
is clear: the victory in Qatar was for the coexistence in Lebanon. Any
assessment should be made from this perspective; otherwise it will be an
incorrect approach. Let us not look for winners and losers in the Qatar
agreement. What we should look for instead is a collective commitment driven
by the concern of all sides to salvage Lebanese coexistence. And saving the
Lebanese coexistence means saving Lebanon, because Lebanon is anchored on
that coexistence."

It is with these words that His Holiness Aram I welcomed the agreement the
Lebanese sides reached in Qatar recently.

"An agreement is not the end; it is only the beginning of consultations and
discussions to be held through an honest dialogue. Through the Qatar
agreement, the sides decided to look for solutions within a political
framework. All sides and all communities should participate in this process
under the auspices of the President. The purpose of this process should be
strengthening the authority of the state with the aim of preserving the
sovereignty, integrity and unity of Lebanon," he continued.

Catholicos Aram I emphasized the importance of mutual trust: "All this will
be difficult to realize if we lack mutual trust. It is through mutual trust
that problems enter the course of their solution. It is mutual trust that
leads us to mutual understanding and compromises. Concessions were made in
Qatar and Lebanon was the victor."

The Armenian Pontiff also stressed the need to implement the agreement in
real life. "The agreement will remain on paper if it is not implemented on
the ground. Not only the signatories to the agreement, but also each and
every Lebanese, Lebanon as a whole, face the obligation to avoid attempts
that could destabilize the coexistence in Lebanon."

Finally, the Spiritual Leader welcomed the agreement on electing General
Michel Suleyman as the next president of the Republic of Lebanon, expressing
hope that a new and bright page in the history of Lebanon will be written
under his leadership.

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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 history and
the mission 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.