LITURGY COMMEMORATING ‘ARMENIAN AND TURKISH HEROES’ UNACCEPTABLE – RUBEN MELKONYAN

15:00 * 25.03.15

Deputy Dean of the Department of Oriental Studies, Yerevan State
University, Ruben Melkonyan, at a meeting with reporters on Wednesday,
commented on a statement by the Patriarch of Constantinople that
bells will not be rung on the night of April 24.

According to him, the Patriarch often makes steps Turkey’s authorities
do not even demand.

“The Patriarch goes beyond the competence of the Armenian Church.

Bells will not be rung in 42 Armenian churches working in Turkey. A
service for victims of both the peoples is planned, which is in
conformity with Turkish propaganda called ‘common pain,’ Mr Melkonyan
said.

The Turkish authorities have assigned a specific role to the Patriarch
of Constantinople, which does not meet the Armenian community’s
interests.

“This is one more attempt to involve the Armenian Church in Turkey’s
politics,” Mr Melkonyan said.

According to the information at our disposal, a liturgy commemorating
Armenian and Turkish heroes is to take place in Canakkale, on April
24. This is an unacceptable thing.”

The Patriarch of Constantinople is responsible for churches operating
in Turkey and for Armenians living there and he has no right to
consider himself to be outside the Armenians-related processes.

“It is important for both Armenia and Turkey to see commemorative
events in different parts of Armenians’ historical homeland even 100
years after the Armenian Genocide. These are actually signs of protest
that must certainly be encouraged, but in a somewhat reserved manner
not to be entrapped by Turkish propaganda.

The “dissident” members of the Armenian community will organize a
number of events outside Turkish propaganda because they have united
round the Mother See.

“The problems of Armenians in Istanbul and Western Armenia are not
resolved. Rather, they are worsening because of lack of ties with
Echmiadzin,” Mr Melkonyan said.