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:

May 7, 2010
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HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II VISITS BAKU, AZERBAIJAN, FOR "WORLD SUMMIT OF
RELIGIOUS LEADERS"

Diocesan Legate Abp. Aykazian Takes Part as NCC Representative

On April 26, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, to participate in a "World
Summit of Religious Leaders."

Leaders and representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu
communities from 32 countries took part in the meeting. His Holiness
attended the summit at the invitation of its co-chairs His Holiness Kirill
I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and Sheikh ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur
Hummat Pashazade, Grand Mufti of the Caucasus.

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, also took part in
the visit in his capacity as past president and current officer of the
National Council of Churches in the U.S.A.

At the summit, the Catholicos of All Armenians participated in a private
meeting with Patriarch Kirill and Sheikh ul-Islam, and met with Azerbaijan’s
President, Ilham Aliyev.

"As religious leaders, it is our holy duty to make every effort to end wars,
terrorism, poverty, and social ills for the good of humanity," Catholicos
Karekin II said. He also extolled the value of inter-religious dialogue and
reminded religious leaders that "God is a God not of disorder but of peace"
(1 Cor 14:33).

During his private meeting with the religious leaders of Russia and
Azerbaijan, Catholicos Karekin II had the opportunity to discuss the
situation in Nagorno-Karabagh. The three leaders signed a joint declaration
expressing hope "that in the future.we can assist the progress of the
principles of peaceful coexistence for our peoples and the cultivation of
mutually acceptable decisions, exclusively through the path of dialogue."

"It is pleasing to witness that meetings of similar formats have
significantly contributed to the cessation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani armed
conflict founded on the issue of Karabagh. Undoubtedly, these meetings have
helped to prevent the conflict from taking on an inter-religious nature,"
the statement read.

It went on: "The power of religion, which is a calling to goodness, peace,
sympathy and patience, shall become a factor of reconciliation. We believe
that our common efforts will benefit the defeat of inter-ethnic enmity."

Catholicos Karekin II also participated in a working session focusing on
strengthening dialogue with UNESCO.

Present with Catholicos Karekin II during his meeting with Mr. Aliyev were
Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, General Secretary of Inter-Church Relations at
Holy Etchmiadzin, Bishop Hovakim Manukian, director of the Inter- Church
Relations Department, and the Rev. Fr. Vahram Melikian, director of the
Information Services Department at Holy Etchmiadzin.

Armenian clergy, Azerbaijan’s president, and Sheikh ul-Islam discussed the
importance of religious and cultural dialogues and the value of conferences
such as the "World Summit of Religious Leaders." His Holiness Karekin II and
Mr. Aliyev also discussed Nagorno-Karabagh and stressed the need for a
peaceful approach to the situation.

His Holiness Karekin II and Archbishop Aykazian also visited the Armenian
Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Baku, which is currently used as a
library. They prayed and sang Armenian hymns, and His Holiness expressed his
hope that the church would reopen its doors to the faithful.

Before departing from Baku, His Holiness Karekin II invited religious
leaders to hold the "World Summit" in Armenia next year, and invited Sheikh
ul-Islam to visit Holy Etchmiadzin.

At the conclusion of the summit, participants released a statement on the
influence of globalization on religion and traditional values.

"In the contemporary world many attempt to push religion to the periphery of
public life," the statement said. "In present conditions, the cooperation of
traditional religious communities becomes more and more vital..We are
convinced that an effective mechanism for dialogue with the international
community will help in the search for ways to overcome the negative
consequences of globalization, and for positive changes towards a better
world context in the political, economic, and juridical dimensions."

Reflecting on the meetings, Archbishop Aykazian said: "As a religious
leader-one who serves in the New World but who has deep roots throughout the
Old World-I welcome the proposal for a dialogue among civilizations. Such a
dialogue can indeed be initiated on a religious level, and certain
principles based on the commonly shared values of all religions, can be
drawn to set moral guidelines that could help and even restrain secular
leaders from immorality and violence."

* * *

PHOTO CAPTIONS

BakuMtg1

His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians (center), met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill I (left) and
Sheikh ul-Islam Pashazade (right) during a summit of religious leaders in
Baku.

BakuMtg2

While in Baku, Catholicos Karekin II visited the Armenian Church of St.
Gregory the Illuminator, which is currently used as a library, where he
prayed and sang Armenian hymns. Accompanying him was Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian (left), Legate of the Eastern Diocese, who took part in the
gathering in his capacity as past president of the National Council of
Churches in the U.S.A. His Holiness expressed his hope that the church
would reopen its doors to the faithful.

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