Istanbul to welcome head of Armenian church

[Gavur]

Turkish ‘hospitality’ To Armenian Catholicos

AZG Armenian Daily #122, 01/07/2006


The prosecutor’s office of Istanbul has filed a lawsuit against Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians Karekin II on charge of "insulting Turkish dignity". According to Turkish media, during his Turkey visit the Armenian Catholicos "made statements insulting Turkish self-esteem by saying that Turkey has to recognize the killings of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as a genocide."

The prosecutor’s office says that it’s impossible to take Karekin II’s affidavit as there is no cooperation agreement between Armenia and Turkey in the sphere of jurisprudence. But the office can take a decision of detaining the Catholicos once he tries to enter Turkey again.

[auser]

I had always thought that poor armenians who live in Iran , have to face a lot of religious confrontations with Iranians who are said to be extremists and terrorists (which is not true!) but by reading these articles & following what really happens to minorities in turkey, I’ve completely changed my mind. The situation of Armenians in iran is not comparable to that of turkey . Iranians have a 2500 year civilization which distinguishes them fully from the barbares who settled in the area 600 years ago approximately.
An Armenian in iran is an Armenian proudly(even a loud one!), with no fear to express that. But should’nt forget that all minorities in iran have some issues to deal with which in my opinion do not affect their daily life.

[Joseph]

I had always thought that poor armenians who live in Iran , have to face a lot of religious confrontations with Iranians who are said to be extremists and terrorists (which is not true!) but by reading these articles & following what really happens to minorities in turkey, I’ve completely changed my mind. The situation of Armenians in iran is not comparable to that of turkey . Iranians have a 2500 year civilization which distinguishes them fully from the barbares who settled in the area 600 years ago approximately.
An Armenian in iran is an Armenian proudly(even a loud one!), with no fear to express that. But should’nt forget that all minorities in iran have some issues to deal with which in my opinion do not affect their daily life.

I've met quite a few Armenians from Iran and they mostly have postive things to say about the country and its people. Despite relgious differences they share a lot in common with Persians and respect them. It was difficult after the Revolution and there are occasionally small incidents but Armenians are more or less treated with respect and protected. I can appreciate how Iran give Armenians there a voice even though the Armenian community there is not as big as it once was.

[Joseph]

I've met quite a few Armenians from Iran and they mostly have postive things to say about the country and its people. Despite relgious differences they share a lot in common with Persians and respect them. It was difficult after the Revolution and there are occasionally small incidents but Armenians are more or less treated with respect and protected. I can appreciate how Iran give Armenians there a voice even though the Armenian community there is not as big as it once was.

An interesting history:

http://www.iranchamber.com/people/armenians_in_iran1.php

[Joseph]

Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition
30.06.2006 12:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan told reporters Wednesday that he did not agree with statements made by His Holiness Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians regarding the need for the Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mutafyan proposed that the "1915 issue" be addressed by historians and sociologists in order for the sides to "understand each other's sensitivities."

During a pontifical visit to Istanbul, Catholicos Garegin II said the Genocide was not a debatable issue for Armenians and it is a fact that Turkey should recognize. The Turkish press reacted adversely to this statement, with one newspaper—the Hurriyet—characterizing the Catholicos' visit as a protest demonstration. Mutafyan said that the Catholicos' statements were not unexpected and since his pontifical visit was being covered by the Armenian media and would be seen by the Diaspora communities, "the Catholicos spoke taking into consideration Diasporan sensitivities," reported Marmara newspaper.

To note, during his visit to Istanbul Garegin II said the Armenian Genocide is not a topic of discussion and must be recognized by Turkey.

[Joseph]

Mutafyan Disagrees With Catholicos on Genocide Recognition
30.06.2006 12:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan told reporters Wednesday that he did not agree with statements made by His Holiness Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians regarding the need for the Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Mutafyan proposed that the "1915 issue" be addressed by historians and sociologists in order for the sides to "understand each other's sensitivities."

During a pontifical visit to Istanbul, Catholicos Garegin II said the Genocide was not a debatable issue for Armenians and it is a fact that Turkey should recognize. The Turkish press reacted adversely to this statement, with one newspaper—the Hurriyet—characterizing the Catholicos' visit as a protest demonstration. Mutafyan said that the Catholicos' statements were not unexpected and since his pontifical visit was being covered by the Armenian media and would be seen by the Diaspora communities, "the Catholicos spoke taking into consideration Diasporan sensitivities," reported Marmara newspaper.

To note, during his visit to Istanbul Garegin II said the Armenian Genocide is not a topic of discussion and must be recognized by Turkey.

Mutafyan is the epitomy of dhimmitude. Yeah Mutafyan, god forbid we should hurt Turkish feelings. Maybe in Mutafyan's syphlittic vision, hurt Turkish feelings is as bad or even worse than the Armenian Genocide and the continued Turkish bullying of Armenia.

[Joseph]

From Dr. Andrew Bostrom:

There are a number of scholars writing and living in the West whose works are widely read , respected and influential but who, for various reasons ,wish to play down the history of the dhimmis, including the Armenian genocide, and the periodic but persistent massacres of, not only, Jews and Christians, but the oft-neglected Hindus, Zoroastrians and Buddhists, living under Islam. Some are concerned for the security of Israel, and are grateful to Turkey for their treaties with Israel, hence these scholars do their best to deny or at least minimize the Armenian massacres. Since any discussion of dhimmis often ends in a discussion of the Armenian Genocide, the negationist scholars are hostile to any works highlighting the plight of Jews and Christians under Islam in general. Others are simply Turkophiles, having made Turkey their field of speciality, have friends and colleagues, even girlfriends or wives from Turkey. Others again are grateful to Turkey for their support during the Cold War.

[Gavur]

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said the Patriarchate was a Turkish inst

Namik Tan: 'Ecumenical' Title not Binding for Turkey
By Cihan News Agency
Friday, December 01, 2006
zaman.com


Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said the Patriarchate was a Turkish institution and no other attributes are binding for Turkey at a weekly press conference on Thursday.

The title of "ecumenical" for Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I has always been a debated issue for Turkey.

The controversial issue surfaced once again during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to patriarchate as press cards, distributed to press members to follow their meeting, had "Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew" written on them.

Asked about the issue at the press conference, Tan explained that the patriarchate was a Turkish institution and that any other attributes were not binding for Turkey.


For further information please visit http://www.cihannews.com