CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II ISSUES ANNOUNCEMENT ON PROTOCOLS

licos-karekin-ii-issues-announcement-on-protocols/
Sep 30, 2009

ETCHMIADZIN (A1plus)-His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II convened a
special meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Holy Sea of
Etchmian on Wednesday where he issued an announcement on the ongoing
Turkey-Armenia normalization process and the two protocols that will
establish diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Below are his remarks:

The Supreme Spiritual Council welcomes the process to establish
diplomatic ties free of preconditions between Armenia and Turkey and
the process to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations, for the sake
of regional security, preservation of peace and the development of
regional cooperation. The Supreme Spiritual Council positively assesses
the pan-Armenian discussions currently taking place surrounding
this process.

The Supreme Spiritual Council considers as natural and understandable
the concerns of Armenians living in Armenia, Artsakh and the
Diaspora, within the context of the bitter historical experience
of our people with Turkey, Turkey’s official policy of denying the
Armenian Genocide, Turkey’s intolerant position expressed toward the
Republic of Armenia, as well as the formulations contained in the
yet to be signed protocols regarding Armenian-Turkish relations that
have caused various interpretations, and the unacceptable statements
coming from the Turkish side associated with this process.

In this regard, the Supreme Spiritual Council reconfirms that
the Armenian Genocide is an indisputable fact, as is the right
to independence for the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and the
self-determination of the Armenians of Artsakh. Our people and
authorities shall never abdicate the pursuit and defense of our
just national rights. The Supreme Spiritual Council exhorts all sons
and daughters of our nation to show utmost vigilance and reason to
avoid nation-damaging polarization, and united together, to face the
challenges before our people.

The Supreme Spiritual Council appeals for the assistance of our Lord
Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the authorities of
the Republic of Armenia, so that they lead the process of normalizing
Armenian-Turkish relations to a successful conclusion, for the sake
of our people’s cherished and vital interests.