Istanbul Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan II said...

[TurQ]

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=national&alt=&trh=20060421&hn=32309

'It is Unethical to Accuse One Side in the Armenian Issue'
By Sezai Kalayci, Musa Ozyurek, Kayseri
Published: Friday, April 21, 2006
zaman.com

Patriarch of Turkish-Armenians, Mesrob Mutafyan II said the dilemma facing Turkish-Armenian relations can only be overcome by dialogue and mutual respect.

Reflecting the true nature of reality requires courage, said Mutafyan. "In the unfortunate conclusion reached, it is unethical attitude for both parties to ignore each other's responsibility or to completely put it on the other side."

Both nations must be able to look at each other's history without prejudice, he added. "We have to change the mentality of degrading the other."

On Thursday, the Patriarch made a speech at the opening ceremony of a symposium titled "The Art of Co-Existence in Ottoman Society: The Case of Turkish-Armenian Relations" organized by Erciyes University in the Turkish city of Kayseri.

Both countries have achieved important successes in historic social and cultural fields; the respect of Armenians and Turks for each other's national and religious symbols is increasing, according to Mutafyan.

Mutafyan said the incidents that occur during representative independence celebrations are outdated, and maintained they sow seeds of enmity.

"Instead of publishing books presenting the Turkish and Armenian theses in different ways memorized by everyone, Turkish and English translations of Armenian works that can make important contributions in Turkish-Armenian relationships must be realized," Mutafyan said.

Mutafyan, highlighting Turks and Armenians are people of the same territory, said the expression, "The Turks and Kurds are essential elements," is discriminatory.

Calling himself a Republican child, Patriarch criticized the understanding of secularism.

"The practice of 'Jacobean secularism' in our country sometimes prevents Islam's ethical dimensions and spiritual richness of meaning from being adding to the analyses," Mutafyan said.

The Armenian Patriarch called on Turks and Armenians to abandon the narrow horizon of nationalism and said, "Replacing nationalism and racism with hospitality is more appropriate to our ethical values."

The symposium, where 125 academics from more than 40 universities within and outside Turkey participated, will continue today as well.

[Gavur]

What do you want him to say his protecting his flock like he should.
Its more like his saying whats Turks want to hear plus trying to set a good example to Turks,In order to critisize nationalist Turks he has to make it sound like his criticizing both sides.

[TurQ]

Gavur
Masrob is not afraid of speaking his mind, this is exactly what he thinks.
I know other cases like this, and teh Armenian diaspora leaders does not like him.
He uses the word genocide,if what you were saying was true he wouldnt do that.

What do you want him to say his protecting his flock like he should.
Its more like his saying whats Turks want to hear plus trying to set a good example to Turks,In order to critisize nationalist Turks he has to make it sound like his criticizing both sides.

[Joseph]

Gavur
Masrob is not afraid of speaking his mind, this is exactly what he thinks.
I know other cases like this, and teh Armenian diaspora leaders does not like him.
He uses the word genocide,if what you were saying was true he wouldnt do that.

It's true that the diaspora does not like him but i really feel like he will be used for propoganda purposes but the Turkish gov't. He seems to get suckered into attenig these types of events or making certain statements. He's not particulary savy but then again he is a priest

[bell-the-cat]

He seems to get suckered into attenig these types of events or making certain statements. He's not particulary savy but then again he is a priest

He sold out, and was bought and paid for long ago. Nothing he now says is of any importance, and he exists purely for the propaganda value that the Turkish state can squeeze out of him.

[TurQ]

Joesph
MAsrob is a mature person, he is an intellectual and a knowledgeable scholar at the same time. He does not personally want to get into influence of diaspora leaders.

The event was not a propoganada event, the name of the conference was
"The art of living togather, peaceful co-existence of Armenians and Turks", it was totally politics free conference. That was Masrob's comments, there were other conferences as well held in Istanbul university or GAzi university, but he just participated in this event.

I have posted that news because of his comments on antagonism on both sides, which I believe has a value.

It's true that the diaspora does not like him but i really feel like he will be used for propoganda purposes but the Turkish gov't. He seems to get suckered into attenig these types of events or making certain statements. He's not particulary savy but then again he is a priest

[TurQ]

Well forlong time he was one of the prime susptects by the government, I dont think what you're saying is true.

Especially because of some property rights the Diaspora leader hate him. Other than that as Ethen Mahcupyan says, the diaspora leaders hate Turkey's Armenians because of their insistence on living in Turkey, and Masrob comes the first in their hate list(I'm not talkin about the ordinary diasporans but the leaders).

There are some other things that I want to say but this is not the proper place, and you would assume those as propoganda, I leave them for now.

He sold out, and was bought and paid for long ago. Nothing he now says is of any importance, and he exists purely for the propaganda value that the Turkish state can squeeze out of him.

[Gavur]

Gavur
Masrob is not afraid of speaking his mind, this is exactly what he thinks.
I know other cases like this, and teh Armenian diaspora leaders does not like him.
He uses the word genocide,if what you were saying was true he wouldnt do that.

Show me where he uses the word Genocide to describe the events of 1915

[TurQ]

I have read in a book as I remeber, "Elestirel Akla Cagri" A Call to Critical Mind, there was this interview with him.
He uses radical terms being like the Partriach and the institution that was funded by Fatih Sultan Mehmet can very well be thought of a Turkish institution cause Armenians and Turks coexisted peacefully for centuries, he says.
And he also says it is not far to confine Turkish Armenian relations to 1915 events casue we have a rich history togather etc

May be I can scan that page for you, let me see

Show me where he uses the word Genocide to describe the events of 1915

[1.5 million]

The lesson of value here - that all Armenians should take head of - is be very wary of following the lead of priests...they have let us down in the past and if allowed many of them would do the same today...