Lraper Church Bulletin 11/07/2005
Contact: Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970, 517-0971
F: +90 (212) 516-4833, 458-1365
patriarchate@post.com
lraper@lraper.org
<; A RECEPTION TO HONOUR DR. PAPKEN ARARKTSYAN Prof. Dr. Papken Ararktsyan, the first President of the parliament of the Third Republic of Armenia, was honoured at a reception on Friday evening, 1 July 2005. The event was presided over by His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, and was held in the courtyard of the chapel of Surp Pirgic (Holy Saviour) Armenian Hospital. Joining the reception were Archbishop Dirayr Mardikyan, Primate of the Armenians of Romania and Bulgaria; Garen Mirzoyan, permanent Armenian representative to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization; Father Tatul Anusyan; Father John Whooley; Yegyazar Uzunyan, Deputy Chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Church in Bulgaria; and representatives and benefactors of Armenian foundations. Bedros Sirinoglu, Chairman of the Hospital Board of Administration, former chairman Setrak Tokat, and members of the Board met the guests, who were briefed about the hospital and who visited the Surp Pirgic Chapel. Immediately thereafter a reception was held in courtyard of the chapel. Bedros Sirinioglu opened the ceremony with a speech in which he stated the happiness he felt from this visit. The floor was taken next by Jamanak newspaper editor in chief, Ara Kocunyan, who spoke about Dr. Ararktsyan's political personality. This newspaper was coordinating the visit of Dr. Papken Ararktsyan to Istanbul. Dr. Ararktsyan's speech In his speech, Dr. Ararktsyan said that his family was from Van and that he had always wanted to see the city of his forefathers. It was for this reason that he and members of his family, together with the Cirbasyan couple from Paris, had come to visit the historical city of Van and its environs. Dr. Ararktsyan noted that while history is important, it was also important that the painful moments of history prod us to life, progress and creativity, rather than to crying and complaining. He said that everyone can see this is possible by looking at the Armenian community in Istanbul. The honoured guest continued by saying that there should be good relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, and that the borders between the two should be opened. Ararktsyan drew attention to developments that could not even be conceived thirty or forty, or even ten years ago as forming a political signal, saying that "we can hope to be witnesses to new developments in this area in the near future." The Patriarch's speech His Beatitude the Patriarch spoke last and greeted the Ararktsyan and Cirbasyan families. He said that the Armenian community of Istanbul is closely following events in Armenia. "It is clear to all of us how much you and your supporters have given yourselves to the establishment of government authority in Armenia in the highly sensitive days following the declaration of freedom," said the Patriarch. "Today there is an independent Republic of Armenia and this, of course, is the cause of many changes in the region. It is somehow gratifying to see that there are four flights today per week between Turkey and Armenia, and that each one is full. This means that passenger traffic has increased. On the other hand, Armenians in Istanbul are following developments in Armenia in the media. If the stated numbers are true, then today there are as many as 30,000 citizens of the Republic of Armenian who have come to Turkey for work." His Beatitude the Patriarch added that everyone was impatiently waiting for the borders between Armenia and Turkey to open, and that this would be beneficial in various ways to the two sides. His Beatitude the Patriarch presented the gift of a silver plate to Dr. Ararktsyan in the name of the Hospital's foundation and the community. Ararktsyan in turn gave the Surp Pirgic Hospital council a carved fruit bowl. Afterwards the guests gathered around the reception tables for conversation.