PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
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October 4, 2006
Highest Ranking Muslim Cleric in Syria Visits Armenia
In continuation of the unprecedented inter-faith and inter-religious
dialogues and visitations during the pontificate of His Holiness
Karekin II, His Excellency Sheikh Ahmad Badr Ad-Din Hassoun, the
Mufti of Aleppo and spiritual leader of the Muslims of the Syrian Arab
Republic, traveled to Armenia last month upon the invitation of the
Catholicos of All Armenians. The visit of the Chief Mufti of Syria
occurred less than one year following the visit of the Chief Rabbi
of Israel to Holy Etchmiadzin as a guest of His Holiness.
Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun was accompanied by Sheikh Abdul Fattah Al Bizem,
Mufti of Damascus; Mr. Basel Kas Nasrallan, Secretary for Christian and
Islamic Relations for the Syrian Arab Republic; and Sheikh Muhammad
Abir Hassoun. Also accompanying the high-ranking delegation was
His Grace Bishop Armash Nalbandian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese
of Damascus.
Arriving in Holy Etchmiadzin on September 2, the Chief Mufti was
received by the Catholicos of All Armenians in the Pontifical
Residence. Welcoming Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun to the headquarters of
the Armenian Church, His Holiness stated, "We are most happy that
your visit to Armenia has given us the opportunity to renew our
friendship and express our respect for the Syrian people." His
Holiness, recalling his visit to Aleppo in 2001 where he was very
warmly received, continued, "It was a great consolation for us and
our people to witness the love and respect of the Syrian people and
authorities when we visited Der Zor. We and our predecessors have
always appreciated the brotherhood and friendship of the Arab peoples,
which was most highly manifested in the years following the Armenian
Genocide, when your nation and many others received the survivors
and their descendants in your hospitable lands, giving them the
opportunity to reestablish their lives and families."
Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun thanked the Pontiff of All Armenians for the
warm welcome, congratulating him and all Armenians throughout the
world on the 15th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of
Armenia. The Chief Mufti spoke of the good relations between Armenia
and Syria and added that the people of Syria received the Armenians
fleeing genocide not as immigrants, but as brothers. Sheikh Ad-Din
Hassoun also stressed the necessity for peace and tolerance in the
world, and the cooperation and ever-present communication among the
leaders of world religions. "The past has given us a history of blood
and suffering. The future must hold a different path for mankind",
stated the Mufti.
As part of the three-day visit of the Syrian religious leader,
the Chief Mufti and his delegation also visited the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial and Museum of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan. In tribute
to the 1.5 million victims of the first genocide of the 20th century,
Sheikh Ad-Din Hassoun stated, "If nations followed their religions,
such crimes would never happen…"
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