PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
The decision of the European Court of Human (UCHR) condones 'negationism,'
wrote His Holiness Aram I to the Federal Counselor Simonetta Sammaruga
Antelias - 10 February 2014. In a letter to the Federal Counselor of the
Department of Justice and Police, Simonetta Sammaruga, His Holiness Aram I
shared the indignation of Armenians with the decision of the European Court
of Human Rights on the Perençik case condemning Switzerland. The Catholicos
wrote," legitimization of negationism of the Armenian Genocide by the ECHR
not only deepens the wound of victimization, but also insinuates contempt
and racism against our people; it strengthens the position of those in
Turkey who use hate language to hinder all processes aiming at truth and
justice."
Addressing the issue of freedom of expression, the Catholicos wrote, "the
decision of the ECHR condemning Switzerland challenges the country's
commitment to freedom of expression and the safeguard of public order.
Questioning this crucial principle by the ECHR is a matter that has to be
discussed by the Court's Grand Chamber in order to set the parameters within
which member states could condemn freedom of speech.
His Holiness Aram I then encouraged the Counselor to appeal to the Grand
Chamber of the European Court because it will also ensure impartiality.
Representatives of the Catholicosate of Cilicia discuss the 100th
Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide with the Moderator and
General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
Antelias - 11 February 2014. On Monday, around the meeting of the
Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches held in Geneva,
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian member of the Executive Committee and Ms. Teny
Pirri-Simonian, member of the Central Committee, met with the Moderator Dr.
Agnes Abuom and General Secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit to discuss the 10th
Assembly Minute regarding the WCC's commemoration of the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.
Archbishop Nareg conveyed the greetings of His Holiness Aram I and
informed the Moderator and General Secretary of the activities that the
Catholicosate of Cilicia has planned for the commemoration of the 100th
anniversary of the Genocide in 2015. This was followed by a presentation by
Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian, who is also President of ARMENOFAS, the
Swiss-Armenian Foundation, of the plans of the Foundation and the Federation
of Swiss Protestant Churches to commemorate the Genocide next year in
Switzerland, as discussed recently Rev. Dr. Gottfried Locher, by the
President of The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, the ARMENOFAS
Board, and His Holiness Aram I.
In view of the Minute adopted by the WCC 10th Assembly on the 100th
Anniversary of the Genocide, it was decided: 1) to organize the
international consultation recommended by the Assembly between February and
March 2015; 2) to consider a theme on 'Impunity' that WCC had discussed and
around which the Catholicosate of Cilicia had organized an international
conference; 3) nominate a small committee to assist the staff in planning
the conference.
The General Secretary agreed to invite the Armenian members of the Central
Committee of the World Council of Churches to accompany the staff in
implement the recommendations of the assembly. They comprise Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian and Ms. Paula Der Matevossian (Holy See Etchmiadzin) and
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian and Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian (Holy See of
Cilicia).
##
http://armenianorthodoxchurch.org/gallery-2
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
The decision of the European Court of Human (UCHR) condones 'negationism,'
wrote His Holiness Aram I to the Federal Counselor Simonetta Sammaruga
Antelias - 10 February 2014. In a letter to the Federal Counselor of the
Department of Justice and Police, Simonetta Sammaruga, His Holiness Aram I
shared the indignation of Armenians with the decision of the European Court
of Human Rights on the Perençik case condemning Switzerland. The Catholicos
wrote," legitimization of negationism of the Armenian Genocide by the ECHR
not only deepens the wound of victimization, but also insinuates contempt
and racism against our people; it strengthens the position of those in
Turkey who use hate language to hinder all processes aiming at truth and
justice."
Addressing the issue of freedom of expression, the Catholicos wrote, "the
decision of the ECHR condemning Switzerland challenges the country's
commitment to freedom of expression and the safeguard of public order.
Questioning this crucial principle by the ECHR is a matter that has to be
discussed by the Court's Grand Chamber in order to set the parameters within
which member states could condemn freedom of speech.
His Holiness Aram I then encouraged the Counselor to appeal to the Grand
Chamber of the European Court because it will also ensure impartiality.
Representatives of the Catholicosate of Cilicia discuss the 100th
Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide with the Moderator and
General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
Antelias - 11 February 2014. On Monday, around the meeting of the
Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches held in Geneva,
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian member of the Executive Committee and Ms. Teny
Pirri-Simonian, member of the Central Committee, met with the Moderator Dr.
Agnes Abuom and General Secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit to discuss the 10th
Assembly Minute regarding the WCC's commemoration of the 100th Anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide.
Archbishop Nareg conveyed the greetings of His Holiness Aram I and
informed the Moderator and General Secretary of the activities that the
Catholicosate of Cilicia has planned for the commemoration of the 100th
anniversary of the Genocide in 2015. This was followed by a presentation by
Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian, who is also President of ARMENOFAS, the
Swiss-Armenian Foundation, of the plans of the Foundation and the Federation
of Swiss Protestant Churches to commemorate the Genocide next year in
Switzerland, as discussed recently Rev. Dr. Gottfried Locher, by the
President of The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, the ARMENOFAS
Board, and His Holiness Aram I.
In view of the Minute adopted by the WCC 10th Assembly on the 100th
Anniversary of the Genocide, it was decided: 1) to organize the
international consultation recommended by the Assembly between February and
March 2015; 2) to consider a theme on 'Impunity' that WCC had discussed and
around which the Catholicosate of Cilicia had organized an international
conference; 3) nominate a small committee to assist the staff in planning
the conference.
The General Secretary agreed to invite the Armenian members of the Central
Committee of the World Council of Churches to accompany the staff in
implement the recommendations of the assembly. They comprise Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian and Ms. Paula Der Matevossian (Holy See Etchmiadzin) and
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian and Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian (Holy See of
Cilicia).
##
http://armenianorthodoxchurch.org/gallery-2