CFK MEETS ARMENIAN LEADERS AFTER POPE-TURKEY ‘GENOCIDE’ CONTROVERSY
Buenos Aires Herald, Argentina
April 14 2015
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner today received the Prelate
of the Armenian Apostolic Church and other leading representatives
of the community, following pope Francis’ recognition of the Armenian
genocide at the hands of Turkey on the centenary of the event.
The head of state’s encounter with leaders of the Argentine-Armenian
community took place in the midst of strong criticism from Turkey
against the pope and the Argentine government, due to the nation’s
refusal to admit to genocide in 1915.
Archbishop Kissag Mouradian headed the delegation that met with CFK in
Olivos today, in order to express her solidarity with the community
on the 100th anniversary of the massacre which took at least 1.5
million Armenian lives, according to historical studies.
Argentina is one of 22 states which recognises that attack as genocide
and on Sunday the Catholic Church, through the pope’s declarations,
also used that description – a statement which provoked a stinging
rebuke from the Turkish government against the Pontiff and the CFK
administration.
Along with strong words from president Tayyip Erdogan, one of the
fiercest criticisms came from European Union minister Volkan Bozkir.
The politician stated that Francis was from Argentina “a country that
welcomed the nazis who were the main authors of the Jewish Holocaust.”
“Regretfully, in Argentina the Armenian diaspora dominate the media
and businesses,” Bozkir added.
From: A. Papazian