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CRITICISM AMID CELEBRATION: TOP DIASPORA CLERIC SLAMS ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP OVER CORRUPTION, EMIGRATION
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
20.09.11 | 11:58
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I (left), Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II
One of the highlights of a two-day forum in Yerevan bringing together
heads and representatives of Diaspora Armenian organizations was the
speech by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. In fact, the
top Diaspora cleric's words proved a cold shower for representatives
of the Armenian authorities attending the event, including President
Serzh Sargsyan.
In his remarks on Monday the spiritual leader straightforwardly
blamed the powers that be for the dwindling population and for what
he described as "internal bleeding" in the country.
The September 19-20 forum has brought together more than 550 people
from Armenian communities in 46 countries of the world. In his opening
remarks President Sargsyan said that the gathering symbolized "the
might of the 10-million-strong Armenian nation" and that "that power
has solved numerous pan-Armenian problems."
The following speech by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, was also fairly optimistic as the
head of the Armenian Apostolic Church avoided talking about problems
of independent Armenia (which causes dismay among some members of the
public; for instance, two months ago a civil initiative demanded the
resignation of the Catholicos, claiming that "he is not next to the
people and is inert towards the country's problems").
"Indeed, the declaration of Artsakh's and Armenia's independence
opened a new page in our history, a new chapter began in the life of
our nation. Our people who have for centuries suffered destruction,
massacres and genocide resolutely declared that they were the masters
of their country, their own rights, their just cause and national
heritage, and that through collective efforts they were ready to
pursue national objectives," stated Karekin II.
And what Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I said was in
stark contrast to the speech by the Catholicos of All Armenians.
"Migration from Armenia continues unabated. We expect that this
warning will elicit a response from the authorities and the sons of
the nation who live in the homeland. Our enemy wanted to see Armenia
without its people, its creative spirit, its quality. And the rapid
course of the disease called corruption... and low living standards
of the people must be redressed quickly. The Church cannot remain
indifferent towards this unhealthy phenomena."
That criticism was not liked by many. "I don't think that this
was correct to make such a speech during these days preceding the
celebration," Deputy Speaker of Parliament Samvel Nikoyan told
ArmeniaNow.
Meanwhile, many believe that this is exactly what the real position
of a Catholicos should be.
"These words are the words from the heart of all of us, our Catholicos
is dependent on the authorities, oligarchs and has lost the common
touch," claimed political scientist Levon Aharonyan, who heads the
Young Political Scientists' Chair NGO.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
20.09.11 | 11:58
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I (left), Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II
One of the highlights of a two-day forum in Yerevan bringing together
heads and representatives of Diaspora Armenian organizations was the
speech by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia. In fact, the
top Diaspora cleric's words proved a cold shower for representatives
of the Armenian authorities attending the event, including President
Serzh Sargsyan.
In his remarks on Monday the spiritual leader straightforwardly
blamed the powers that be for the dwindling population and for what
he described as "internal bleeding" in the country.
The September 19-20 forum has brought together more than 550 people
from Armenian communities in 46 countries of the world. In his opening
remarks President Sargsyan said that the gathering symbolized "the
might of the 10-million-strong Armenian nation" and that "that power
has solved numerous pan-Armenian problems."
The following speech by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, was also fairly optimistic as the
head of the Armenian Apostolic Church avoided talking about problems
of independent Armenia (which causes dismay among some members of the
public; for instance, two months ago a civil initiative demanded the
resignation of the Catholicos, claiming that "he is not next to the
people and is inert towards the country's problems").
"Indeed, the declaration of Artsakh's and Armenia's independence
opened a new page in our history, a new chapter began in the life of
our nation. Our people who have for centuries suffered destruction,
massacres and genocide resolutely declared that they were the masters
of their country, their own rights, their just cause and national
heritage, and that through collective efforts they were ready to
pursue national objectives," stated Karekin II.
And what Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I said was in
stark contrast to the speech by the Catholicos of All Armenians.
"Migration from Armenia continues unabated. We expect that this
warning will elicit a response from the authorities and the sons of
the nation who live in the homeland. Our enemy wanted to see Armenia
without its people, its creative spirit, its quality. And the rapid
course of the disease called corruption... and low living standards
of the people must be redressed quickly. The Church cannot remain
indifferent towards this unhealthy phenomena."
That criticism was not liked by many. "I don't think that this
was correct to make such a speech during these days preceding the
celebration," Deputy Speaker of Parliament Samvel Nikoyan told
ArmeniaNow.
Meanwhile, many believe that this is exactly what the real position
of a Catholicos should be.
"These words are the words from the heart of all of us, our Catholicos
is dependent on the authorities, oligarchs and has lost the common
touch," claimed political scientist Levon Aharonyan, who heads the
Young Political Scientists' Chair NGO.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress