14 02 2008 - .inter-religious conference; Holiness Aram and Ayatollah Khatami “IT IS NOT CORRECT TO BLAME RELIGION AS A ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE”

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It is not correct to blame religion
Stated His Holiness Aram I in Barcelona

BARCELONA – In a context of a long intervention at an International inter-religious conference taking place in Barcelona, His Holiness Aram I addressed on the inter-connection between the religion and violence. He said: “There is a growing tendency particularly in the western societies to blame religion, as the cause of violence. This is an incorrect approach. We should not blame religion as the cause of violence. We should rather blame those, who exploit religion for their personal and political agendas by using religious feelings to generate violence. Leaders of religion have a responsibility not to allow religion to be misused or abused”.
According to His Holiness “the root causes of violence are in global governance, injustice, impunity, corruption, poverty and in abuse of power. When religion is identified with power and powerful, with oppressive and unjust structures and ideologies, then it becomes part of conflict”.
Considering religion as a source of spiritual and moral values and principals, Catholicos Aram I called for religious leaders and stakeholders of civil society “to work together as partners to make use of the rich potential of religion for peace building”. Within this framework, Catholicos Aram I spelled out three critical issues that needs to be given deeper reflection. These are: Lack of mutual trust, decay of moral values, the necessity of living together as a community.
In his concluding remarks Aram I said: “We have enough declarations, messages, statements, communiqués on the importance of the inter-religious dialogue. This is the time to translate our common word to common action. Therefore, we need to initiate people oriented action processes aimed at living together peacefully, by creating partnerships, establishing networks of advocacy and by developing shared values”.

Morocco
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I IS INVITED TO RABAT, MOROCCO BY ISLAMIC EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

BARCELONA – Yesterday morning, in the context of the international inter-religious high level conference, taking place in Barcelona, an important meeting took place between His Holiness Aram I and Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri.
The Islamic educational, scientific and cultural organization was set up in May 1979, by the Tenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, and its objective is to strengthen, promote and consolidate cooperation among the member Islamic States in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. The headquarters of ISESCO is in Rabat, Morocco.
In the said meeting His Holiness and Dr. Altwaijri made a general assessment of the work of the conference, by focusing their attention on a number of specific aspects and issues pertaining to inter-religious dialogue. They also discussed the possibilities of furthering Christian-Muslim dialogue. His Holiness made concrete suggestions aimed at consolidating the ongoing Christian-Muslim dialogue on local, regional and international levels, and proposed that ISESCO play a major role in this regard.
Appreciating the continues efforts of His Holiness in promoting mutual understanding, respect and tolerance among the religions and his important role in peace building processes, Dr. Altwaijri invited him to visit the headquarters of ISESCO and take part in the inter-religious meeting which may take place in Spring 2009.

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President Khatami
CATHOLICOS ARAM I MEETS WITH PRESIDENT KHATAMI

BARCELONA - His Holiness Aram I and the former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Khatami held a private meeting in Barcelona yesterday. They were later joined by their respective delegations. The Catholicos and the Iranian officials discussed the situation in Lebanon, the relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Catholicosate of Cilicia and issues related to the Armenians of Iran.

Talks were also held on the upcoming interfaith dialogue between Iran and the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Tehran this November. Both the former President and the Pontiff stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue in the current world. They were invited to the luncheon organized by the government of Catania in honour of the high-level delegates in the historical palace of the parliament.

Aram I stresses
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I EMPHASIZES THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN PEACE
The interfaith meeting organized by the “Foundation for a Culture of Peace” started its activities yesterday in Barcelona. Senior representatives from various religions and delegates from human rights and peace NGOs are participating in the meeting. Among the participants are such high level delegates as the former president of Iran Khatemi, the former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik, the former Director of UNESCO Federico Mayer and others.
Catholicos Aram I, who is also attending the meeting, met with a number of senior officials discussing with them the role of religion in peace, the need to transform interfaith dialogue into active cooperation and the role of religion in human rights related issues. The Pontiff and his discussants also talked about the statement to be adopted by the meeting. His Holiness’ input was crucial in the writing up and editing of the statement.


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“THE PARLIAMENT IS THE VOICE AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”

STATED HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
In the Parliament of Catalonia, Spain

BARCELONA - “As the voice and the political will of the people, the parliament should act with this sense of responsibility and accountability” said His Holiness Aram I at the Parliament of Catalonia, Spain. “Religion as well is the voice of the people, furthermore, it is called to be the voice of God. If a parliament is accountable only to the people, the religion is first and foremost accountable to God. But we are partners. Although there exist a qualitative difference between religion and parliament as a political institution, we must respect our differences, but we must work together, because we have common objectives, namely the dignity, justice, peace, human rights and well being of people”.
In his intervention referring to the two references made by the president of the Parliament in his welcoming speech, His Holiness Aram I emphasized the pivotal importance of dialogue: “Dialogue is no more a conceptual notion; it is part of our daily life. Dialogue is no more an initiative pertaining exclusively to religions. All the stakeholders of civil society must engage in dialogue. Indeed, dialogue is rejection of self centered existence. It is opening ourselves to the others. It is interactive approach to the realities and problems that we face in different spheres of our life. It is a firm commitment to being together, reflecting and acting together, preserving our distinctiveness and particularities as cultures, religions and nations. Religion has a major role to play in promoting a culture of dialogue. Only such a culture will become a source of peace, against violence. A source of trust against hatred, a source of justice against injustice, a source of living together as community against all trends which lead our societies to disintegration and polarization”.
Catholicos Aram I also criticized the crucial importance of integration in the life of societies: “We must live as communities, not as a separate groups co-existing side by side. If co-existence is not transformed into a common life together, it may generate tension. What we need today is to develop communities of integrated diversities. The role of religion in this respect is critical. Religion could be both a source if integration and a factor of disintegration. Religious leaders have a major role to promote the positive role of religion, as bridge builder, community developer and integration facilitator”.
The second speaker was the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Khatami. Welcoming the particular emphasis laid by His Holiness Aram I on the role of the Parliament, the necessity of dialogue and integration, president Khatami in his turn developed the notion of the parliament being the household of the people. He said in the parliament the people should feel themselves at home and work for the well being of the people in all spheres of its life.
The third speaker was Dr. Abdulaziz Otheman Altwaijiri. He stressed the importance of dialogue of religions and cultures. He stated the commitment of his organization to working together as partners, with all actors of civil society for peace building, as well as for the promotion of cultural, educational and human values.
At the end of the official ceremony the Speaker of the House presented gifts to Catholicos Aram I, President Khatami and Dr. Altwaijiri.

Church of Ireland

A DELEGATION FROM THE CHURCH OF IRELAND VISITS ANTELIAS

A delegation from the Church of Ireland headed by Reverend Sheila Kesting, arrived in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia yesterday for a visit aimed at learning more about the situation in Lebanon and its Christian communities in particular.

The Catholicosate’s Ecumenical Officer, Bishop Nareg Alemezian, welcomed the delegation on behalf of His Holiness Aram I. Bishop Alemezian explained in great detail the life and mission of the Armenian Church, focusing on the various fields of activity of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. He also spoke about the Catholicosate’s contribution to the inter-church and interfaith spheres.

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of the Armenian Orthodox Church. Its jurisdiction extends over the Armenian Communities in the Middle East, Europe and North and South America. The Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon. /// Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia - Communication and Information Department.
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer.

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