President Sargsyan to `Sell’ Protocols During Diaspora Tour
2009/ 09/24 | 21:29
society
Yesterday, RoA President Serzh Sargsyan met with His Holiness
Catholicos Garegin II at which time the two discuss church-state
relations and the recent developments in normalization talks between
Armenia and Turkey.
President Sargsyan informed the Catholicos that he would be leaving
for a weeklong tour of various diaspora communities on October 1 that
would included the cities of Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Beirut and
Rostov-on-Don, where sizeable Armenian communities exist. The purpose
of the trip, President Sargsyan explained, would be to promote and
explain his diplomatic overtures to Turkey that has caused much
concern with many in the diaspora.
President Sargsyan said the process had entered a critical stage, that
of public and political discourse. He said that the continuing
discussions were quite helpful, whether or not the protocols were
eventually ratified or not, since they serve as an important stage to
talk about relations and outstanding issues with Turkey.
`Of course there are very sensitive and emotional elements and it
couldn’t have been otherwise since a huge segment of our people is
comprised of descendants of those who survived the Genocide,’
President Sargsyan noted. `In addition, our sacred sites are located
on the other side of the border – our churches, our capital city and
for many, what remains of their ancestral homes.’
The President confessed that he sometimes had to wrestle with his
emotions, but that in the end he was convinces that these discussions
are of vital importance.
Catholicos Garegin II expressed his support for the president’s
goodwill tour. `The Diaspora is a vital and inseparable part of our
people and it is only right for our Diaspora sons … to be able to
hear answers from you personally to questions that concern them. Also,
you will be exposed to the thoughts, opinions and concerns of our
Diaspora sons.’
The Catholicos reported that the Supreme Spiritual Council of the
Armenian Church will also be taking up the matter of Armenian-Turkish
relations at its next scheduled meeting and will make its views known
regarding the protocol document.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
