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MOTHER SEE HAS TO FACE THE FACT
Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments - 10 February 2015, 12:52
The bank accounts of the Mother See were always registered in the
name of Catholicoses, the information system of the Mother See told
Armenpress, commenting on the leaked bank account in the name of
Garegin II Nerses among Swiss HSBC customers. It was made known by
the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
The information system of the Mother See explained that the bank
account was opened during the tenure of Garegin I. The bank account
was renamed when Garegin II became the next catholicos after his death,
and it is noted that not only the account but also the money mentioned
in it was transferred.
The leaked information is about 1.1 million dollars on the account.
Interestingly, the published information states that the bank account
appeared in the bank's official files in 2000. Is it a new bank account
or a renamed account? If the bank account had been renamed, and the
money had been transferred accordingly, the difference should have
been reflected in the bank's official records, it should be visible
whether it is a new account or a renamed account.
The questions are many, and other questions occurred after the
clarifications of the Mother See. For example, Mother See's bank
accounts are in the name of catholicoses. Are all the bank accounts of
the church in the name of the Catholicos or not? If not, what is the
policy of deciding which bank account is opened in the name of the
Catholicos? Because it is almost the same as having the treasury of
Armenia in the name of Levon Ter-Petrosyan renamed to Robert Kocharyan
renamed to Serzh Sargsyan. Mildly speaking, it would be absurd.
Why would the bank account of the Armenian Apostolic Church or the
Mother See be in the name of the Catholicos, not the church?
Besides, it is interesting why the church account is in a Swiss bank,
not another country. It is known that the Swiss banks observe a high
level of confidentiality, and usually the money of people or companies
is kept in Swiss banks who do not want to be visible. Is the Armenian
Apostolic Church such? Is it impossible to open a bank account in
France or any other country with a developed banking system instead
of a system which is actually offshore?
At the same time, it is understood that the church is an organization,
and a lot of money is needed to sustain it. Besides sustaining the
organization, the church implements social programs which also require
funds. And the problem is not why the Armenian Apostolic Church should
deal with foreign banks, have bank accounts etc. Such questions would
have been at least illogical.
The problem is why part of the assets is kept in a closed system,
in the bank offshore. And where the tradition of keeping the money
in the name of the Catholicoses instead of the church comes from.
Furthermore, this would have never become known to anyone if there
had not been for the leak, which arouses questions. Moreover, these
questions occurred in public consciousness earlier, judging by the
life of some high-ranking officials of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
as well as their involvement in other offshore scandals. In fact,
another occasion has come up to raise these questions once again.
These are questions that must be answered for the sake of the
reputation and public confidence of the Armenian Apostolic Church
which has been damaged considerably over the past few years due to
its behavior as an amorphous public and social institution, egoistic,
highly materialized activities fitting within the essence of the
ruling system of Armenia.
In addition, apparently the Mother See should take a step ahead and
start preparing clarifications for other bank leaks if there are such.
The modern geopolitical processes, their logic, tense, matured
competition of civilizations, revision of its content and limits make
such leaks regular, and the information which seemed to be kept in
safes suddenly causes a fire in the press, such as the leaks from
one of the British offshore islands, revealing Aliyev's assets.
Time and technology do not spare those who hope to hide successfully in
a small space in fast time, covering itself with forgery of religious
and patriotic values.
The time for accounting for these things comes unexpected and
inevitably, hence it is worthwhile to prepare answers for them as well.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/33610#sthash.Q9W7hD3N.dpuf
Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments - 10 February 2015, 12:52
The bank accounts of the Mother See were always registered in the
name of Catholicoses, the information system of the Mother See told
Armenpress, commenting on the leaked bank account in the name of
Garegin II Nerses among Swiss HSBC customers. It was made known by
the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
The information system of the Mother See explained that the bank
account was opened during the tenure of Garegin I. The bank account
was renamed when Garegin II became the next catholicos after his death,
and it is noted that not only the account but also the money mentioned
in it was transferred.
The leaked information is about 1.1 million dollars on the account.
Interestingly, the published information states that the bank account
appeared in the bank's official files in 2000. Is it a new bank account
or a renamed account? If the bank account had been renamed, and the
money had been transferred accordingly, the difference should have
been reflected in the bank's official records, it should be visible
whether it is a new account or a renamed account.
The questions are many, and other questions occurred after the
clarifications of the Mother See. For example, Mother See's bank
accounts are in the name of catholicoses. Are all the bank accounts of
the church in the name of the Catholicos or not? If not, what is the
policy of deciding which bank account is opened in the name of the
Catholicos? Because it is almost the same as having the treasury of
Armenia in the name of Levon Ter-Petrosyan renamed to Robert Kocharyan
renamed to Serzh Sargsyan. Mildly speaking, it would be absurd.
Why would the bank account of the Armenian Apostolic Church or the
Mother See be in the name of the Catholicos, not the church?
Besides, it is interesting why the church account is in a Swiss bank,
not another country. It is known that the Swiss banks observe a high
level of confidentiality, and usually the money of people or companies
is kept in Swiss banks who do not want to be visible. Is the Armenian
Apostolic Church such? Is it impossible to open a bank account in
France or any other country with a developed banking system instead
of a system which is actually offshore?
At the same time, it is understood that the church is an organization,
and a lot of money is needed to sustain it. Besides sustaining the
organization, the church implements social programs which also require
funds. And the problem is not why the Armenian Apostolic Church should
deal with foreign banks, have bank accounts etc. Such questions would
have been at least illogical.
The problem is why part of the assets is kept in a closed system,
in the bank offshore. And where the tradition of keeping the money
in the name of the Catholicoses instead of the church comes from.
Furthermore, this would have never become known to anyone if there
had not been for the leak, which arouses questions. Moreover, these
questions occurred in public consciousness earlier, judging by the
life of some high-ranking officials of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
as well as their involvement in other offshore scandals. In fact,
another occasion has come up to raise these questions once again.
These are questions that must be answered for the sake of the
reputation and public confidence of the Armenian Apostolic Church
which has been damaged considerably over the past few years due to
its behavior as an amorphous public and social institution, egoistic,
highly materialized activities fitting within the essence of the
ruling system of Armenia.
In addition, apparently the Mother See should take a step ahead and
start preparing clarifications for other bank leaks if there are such.
The modern geopolitical processes, their logic, tense, matured
competition of civilizations, revision of its content and limits make
such leaks regular, and the information which seemed to be kept in
safes suddenly causes a fire in the press, such as the leaks from
one of the British offshore islands, revealing Aliyev's assets.
Time and technology do not spare those who hope to hide successfully in
a small space in fast time, covering itself with forgery of religious
and patriotic values.
The time for accounting for these things comes unexpected and
inevitably, hence it is worthwhile to prepare answers for them as well.
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/33610#sthash.Q9W7hD3N.dpuf