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PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
OPENING OF THE INTELLECTUALS' CONFERENCE IN ANTELIAS
"BELONGING TO ONE NATION HAS BECOME THE BASIS OF OUR UNITY, THE SOURCE
OF OUR STRENGTH AND
THE SUSTAINING POWER OF OUR SURVIVAL"
Says His Holiness Aram I
Antelias, Lebanon - The meeting of intellectuals from Armenia and the
Diaspora officially started on August 11 under the patronage of His
Holiness Aram I. His Holiness Aram I said prayers and the Seminary's
choir delivered "Hair Mer".
20 intellectuals, politicians and leaders from Armenia and several
communities from the Diaspora are attending the conference. The
Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, Mr, Arek Hovhannisian, and the
director of the "Armenia" pan Armenian fund, Naira Melkoumian also
attended the opening of the conference. Lebanese Armenian intellectuals
and political leaders were present as observers.
His Holiness Aram I talked about the direction the conference should
take and its prospects.
"We hope that the unique nature of this gathering would provide an
opportunity for free thought, realistic analyses and honest judgments
away from all kinds of influences and prejudiced approaches," said
His Holiness.
His Holiness stressed the importance of dialogue. "Talking
about each other away from one another leads us to alienation,
polarization. Being together and talking with one another lead us to
unity and progress. Our nation should choose the second path."
His Holiness called upon the attendants to come out of their closed
circles and stay open to new challenges. "We need new and wider spaces
to inter-act with each other", said Aram I. He stressed cooperation
as the pivot of the Armenian nation's collective struggle.
"The sense of belonging to one nation has become the unshakable basis
of our unity, our strength, our survival. Therefore, we should talk
about cooperation between the two societies of a single nation. Any
other approach is not acceptable," said His Holiness.
The Pontiff spoke about the current status of Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation, outlining the importance of getting to know one another
better. He pointed out that during the first few years of Armenia's
independence and the Karabakh liberation war, the Diaspora dedicated
its heart and money to Armenia. His Holiness said, however, that
unfortunately this aid has started to decrease.
His Holiness summarized the main purpose of the conference in the
following three points: giving a new impetus to the cooperation between
Armenia and the Diaspora, challenge intellectuals to make people's
voices and will heard, discussing the factors hindering cooperation
and looking for ways for giving a new drive to this cooperation.
The first two sessions of the conference were dedicated to what has
been achieved to this date in Armenia-Diaspora cooperation. Levon
Meguerdtchian, an MP from Armenia, and Jirair Tanielian, a well-known
scholar, chaired the sessions.
Hranoush Hagopian, an MP from Armenia, and Bedros Terzian from France
were the speakers during the first session.
Hagopian talked about the main incidents in Armenian history of the
last decades and considered the current situation as a consequence
of these incidents. She expressed optimism in the prospects for
cooperation, praising the decision of His Holiness to hold the
conference in Antelias, Lebanon "which remains the main community in
the Diaspora after the Genocide."
Bedros Terzian talked about the future of Armenia and the Diaspora
the way he pictures it. He stressed the importance of renewal of
structures, betterment of quality and the importance of giving a new
impetus to Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
Ambassador Arek Hovhannisian commended the conference and the
attendants started a discussion about the challenges facing
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
His Holiness Aram I delivered the concluding remarks after the two
sessions of the first day. "We should make diagnosis of the problem
and seek the cure in order to build cooperation on strong pillars,"
said His Holiness. He spoke about confusion between two realities,
government policy and national ideology.
"The two have different priorities and approaches. But there is
a pan-national ideology that requires discussion of pan national
problems, strengthening of Armenia and the Diaspora through organized,
systematic and close cooperation," said His Holiness.
His Holiness emphasized that the attendants should look for new
models and methods of cooperation, leaving behind the traditional,
classical and outdated ways. He said Armenians need to adopt pan
Armenian approaches to issues and should create pan Armenian values
transcending local mentalities and approaches.
"We have shortage of manpower both in Armenia and the Diaspora. We
have started to get to know one another well. We should continue this
way. We should gradually move from romantic patriotism to realistic
patriotism. What Armenia gives us is not direction, what we give
Armenia is not aid. What each does for the other is contribution to
the strengthening of the Diaspora and the building of the motherland,"
said His Holiness.
Aram I stressed the importance of devising plans to renew all Armenian
structures in Armenia and the Diaspora.
##
View pictures here:
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures49.htm
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures50.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about
the history and the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may
refer to the web page of the Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/
The Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church
is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cathcil.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Armenian.htm
OPENING OF THE INTELLECTUALS' CONFERENCE IN ANTELIAS
"BELONGING TO ONE NATION HAS BECOME THE BASIS OF OUR UNITY, THE SOURCE
OF OUR STRENGTH AND
THE SUSTAINING POWER OF OUR SURVIVAL"
Says His Holiness Aram I
Antelias, Lebanon - The meeting of intellectuals from Armenia and the
Diaspora officially started on August 11 under the patronage of His
Holiness Aram I. His Holiness Aram I said prayers and the Seminary's
choir delivered "Hair Mer".
20 intellectuals, politicians and leaders from Armenia and several
communities from the Diaspora are attending the conference. The
Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon, Mr, Arek Hovhannisian, and the
director of the "Armenia" pan Armenian fund, Naira Melkoumian also
attended the opening of the conference. Lebanese Armenian intellectuals
and political leaders were present as observers.
His Holiness Aram I talked about the direction the conference should
take and its prospects.
"We hope that the unique nature of this gathering would provide an
opportunity for free thought, realistic analyses and honest judgments
away from all kinds of influences and prejudiced approaches," said
His Holiness.
His Holiness stressed the importance of dialogue. "Talking
about each other away from one another leads us to alienation,
polarization. Being together and talking with one another lead us to
unity and progress. Our nation should choose the second path."
His Holiness called upon the attendants to come out of their closed
circles and stay open to new challenges. "We need new and wider spaces
to inter-act with each other", said Aram I. He stressed cooperation
as the pivot of the Armenian nation's collective struggle.
"The sense of belonging to one nation has become the unshakable basis
of our unity, our strength, our survival. Therefore, we should talk
about cooperation between the two societies of a single nation. Any
other approach is not acceptable," said His Holiness.
The Pontiff spoke about the current status of Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation, outlining the importance of getting to know one another
better. He pointed out that during the first few years of Armenia's
independence and the Karabakh liberation war, the Diaspora dedicated
its heart and money to Armenia. His Holiness said, however, that
unfortunately this aid has started to decrease.
His Holiness summarized the main purpose of the conference in the
following three points: giving a new impetus to the cooperation between
Armenia and the Diaspora, challenge intellectuals to make people's
voices and will heard, discussing the factors hindering cooperation
and looking for ways for giving a new drive to this cooperation.
The first two sessions of the conference were dedicated to what has
been achieved to this date in Armenia-Diaspora cooperation. Levon
Meguerdtchian, an MP from Armenia, and Jirair Tanielian, a well-known
scholar, chaired the sessions.
Hranoush Hagopian, an MP from Armenia, and Bedros Terzian from France
were the speakers during the first session.
Hagopian talked about the main incidents in Armenian history of the
last decades and considered the current situation as a consequence
of these incidents. She expressed optimism in the prospects for
cooperation, praising the decision of His Holiness to hold the
conference in Antelias, Lebanon "which remains the main community in
the Diaspora after the Genocide."
Bedros Terzian talked about the future of Armenia and the Diaspora
the way he pictures it. He stressed the importance of renewal of
structures, betterment of quality and the importance of giving a new
impetus to Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
Ambassador Arek Hovhannisian commended the conference and the
attendants started a discussion about the challenges facing
Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.
His Holiness Aram I delivered the concluding remarks after the two
sessions of the first day. "We should make diagnosis of the problem
and seek the cure in order to build cooperation on strong pillars,"
said His Holiness. He spoke about confusion between two realities,
government policy and national ideology.
"The two have different priorities and approaches. But there is
a pan-national ideology that requires discussion of pan national
problems, strengthening of Armenia and the Diaspora through organized,
systematic and close cooperation," said His Holiness.
His Holiness emphasized that the attendants should look for new
models and methods of cooperation, leaving behind the traditional,
classical and outdated ways. He said Armenians need to adopt pan
Armenian approaches to issues and should create pan Armenian values
transcending local mentalities and approaches.
"We have shortage of manpower both in Armenia and the Diaspora. We
have started to get to know one another well. We should continue this
way. We should gradually move from romantic patriotism to realistic
patriotism. What Armenia gives us is not direction, what we give
Armenia is not aid. What each does for the other is contribution to
the strengthening of the Diaspora and the building of the motherland,"
said His Holiness.
Aram I stressed the importance of devising plans to renew all Armenian
structures in Armenia and the Diaspora.
##
View pictures here:
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures49.htm
http://www.cathcil.org/v04/doc/Photos/Pictures50.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about
the history and the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may
refer to the web page of the Catholicosate, http://www.cathcil.org/
The Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church
is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress