PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org
Website:
September 29, 2009
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ARCHBIS HOP VICKEN AYKAZIAN, REV. FR. TATEOS ABDALIAN ATTEND APPEAL OF
CONSCIENCE FOUNDATION AWARDS DINNER IN NEW YORK
On Tuesday, September 22, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern
Diocese and President of the National Council of Churches, represented the
NCC at the annual awards dinner of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in
New York City. The Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian represented Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern). Archbishop Barsamian, who is a long-serving vice president of the
Appeal of Conscience Foundation, was in the midst of an official visit to
Armenia.
More than 450 civic and religious leaders were present at the gathering,
including Archbishop Demetrios, leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in the
United States; Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick; former U.S.
Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; Israel
Defense Minister Ehud Barack; and Bono, lead singer of the rock band U2.
Each year the Appeal of Conscience Foundation recognizes individuals who
have helped support programs and initiatives that promote religious freedom
and human rights. The 2009 honorees included Prime Minister Gordon Brown of
the United Kingdom; Bernard Arnault, CEO of Louis Vuitton; and Muhtar Kent,
CEO of Coca-Cola.
As he recognized Muhtar Kent, who was born to Turkish parents, Rabbi Arthur
Schneier, the founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, encouraged
improved relations between Armenians and Turks. Mr. Kent later approached
Archbishop Aykazian and the two shared a cordial conversation, both wishing
the best for a peaceful future for Armenia and Turkey.
Archbishop Aykazian was also able to speak with pop singer and human rights
activist Bono. "Our two peoples, the Armenians and the Irish, have had
similar stories of sufferings and challenges, but we have survived,"
Archbishop Aykazian said. He then blessed Bono for the good work he has done
around the world, and prayed that God would give him strength to continue
his efforts. "He was truly grateful, and I was very impressed," Archbishop
Aykazian said of the artist who has been recognized for his humanitarian
efforts, and whose music often deals with Christian themes.
The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, a coalition of business and religious
leaders established in 1965, promotes peace, tolerance, and ethnic conflict
resolution. The Eastern Diocese has been a strong supporter of the Appeal of
Conscience Foundation since its inception, and both Archbishop Torkom
Manoogian and Archbishop Barsamian have been deeply involved with the
foundation’s activities.
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Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian with His Excellency Egemen Bagis,
Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Republic of Turkey, at the
annual awards dinner of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation.
Photo 2: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian with Bono, lead singer of the rock band
U2, at the annual awards dinner of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation.