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WHAT ARMENIAN CATHOLICOS WROTE TO US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
epress.am
08.29.2011
In Dec. 2009, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, sent a letter to the US Ambassador to
Armenia addressed to US President Barack Obama regarding the issues
concerning ethnic and religious minorities in the Republic of Georgia,
according to a Wikileaks cable released Aug. 26, 2011.
In the letter, His Holiness Karekin II states that he wishes to bring
to Obama's attention the "unacceptable situation" regarding the status
of religious minorities in Georgia, noting that the situation has
worsened since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
"As head of the Armenian Church, our unfortunate experience over the
past two decades leads us to conclude that nothing in the religious
sphere within Georgia has changed for the better since the collapse
of the Soviet Union. On the contrary, religious life in the Republic
of Georgia today "except within the Georgian Orthodox Church" is
more restricted, repressed and intolerant for ethnic and religious
minorities.
"After numerous years of effort and countless unsuccessful attempts
to work with the Georgian government and the
Georgian Orthodox Church to regulate the Armenian Church diocese
and communities in Georgia, we are forced to formally bring to your
attention the unresolved issues regarding: 1) the lack of legal status
for religious minorities in Georgia; and 2) the Georgian government's
refusal to return church buildings and church properties. We require
your decisive assistance to compel the Georgian authorities to live
up to their international obligations, among which are the fostering
of an environment where all Christian churches, as well as religious
organizations of other faiths, can operate normally and have their
human rights respected and protected," the letter reads.
The Armenian Catholicos then cites an example of an Armenian church
in Georgia that collapsed due to neglect. "The most recent example of
the Georgian government's indifference and wanton neglect resulted
in the collapse two weeks ago of the historic St. Gevork of Mughni
Armenian Church (built in 1356) in Tbilisi, Georgia; which is the
second church we have lost in this manner. This has caused great
indignation among our people and Church."
His Holiness Karekin II ends the letter by expressing hope that the
US government "will implement the necessary steps to positively affect
this unacceptable situation."
Note, in Jul. 2011, the Georgian parliament approved amendments to
the Civil Code that conferred legal status to religious groups in
the country.
epress.am
08.29.2011
In Dec. 2009, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, sent a letter to the US Ambassador to
Armenia addressed to US President Barack Obama regarding the issues
concerning ethnic and religious minorities in the Republic of Georgia,
according to a Wikileaks cable released Aug. 26, 2011.
In the letter, His Holiness Karekin II states that he wishes to bring
to Obama's attention the "unacceptable situation" regarding the status
of religious minorities in Georgia, noting that the situation has
worsened since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
"As head of the Armenian Church, our unfortunate experience over the
past two decades leads us to conclude that nothing in the religious
sphere within Georgia has changed for the better since the collapse
of the Soviet Union. On the contrary, religious life in the Republic
of Georgia today "except within the Georgian Orthodox Church" is
more restricted, repressed and intolerant for ethnic and religious
minorities.
"After numerous years of effort and countless unsuccessful attempts
to work with the Georgian government and the
Georgian Orthodox Church to regulate the Armenian Church diocese
and communities in Georgia, we are forced to formally bring to your
attention the unresolved issues regarding: 1) the lack of legal status
for religious minorities in Georgia; and 2) the Georgian government's
refusal to return church buildings and church properties. We require
your decisive assistance to compel the Georgian authorities to live
up to their international obligations, among which are the fostering
of an environment where all Christian churches, as well as religious
organizations of other faiths, can operate normally and have their
human rights respected and protected," the letter reads.
The Armenian Catholicos then cites an example of an Armenian church
in Georgia that collapsed due to neglect. "The most recent example of
the Georgian government's indifference and wanton neglect resulted
in the collapse two weeks ago of the historic St. Gevork of Mughni
Armenian Church (built in 1356) in Tbilisi, Georgia; which is the
second church we have lost in this manner. This has caused great
indignation among our people and Church."
His Holiness Karekin II ends the letter by expressing hope that the
US government "will implement the necessary steps to positively affect
this unacceptable situation."
Note, in Jul. 2011, the Georgian parliament approved amendments to
the Civil Code that conferred legal status to religious groups in
the country.