Antelias: Armenia-Diaspora Intellectuals’ Conference

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I STATES THAT ALL ARMENIANS ARE MEMBERS OF THE
SAME FAMILY

The conference entitled “Looking for prospects of Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation” came to its end on August 13, after three days of
useful discussions about various issues related to Armenia and the
Diaspora. The conference had kicked off on August 11 and was organized
under the patronage of His Holiness Aram I.

On the third day of sessions, the attendants expressed their views
about the conference, made new proposals related to Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation and built on their previous discussions.

They expressed their gratitude to His Holiness Aram I for organizing
the conference and inviting prominent intellectuals from Armenia and
the Diaspora.

A long session was dedicated to proposals for cooperation between
the two sides. The attendants set out priorities for the Armenians
and highlighted the issues considered most vital in the cultural,
educational, economic, and Armenian Cause fields.

His Holiness Aram I emphasized the importance of adopting a new
mindset and transcending local mentalities and approaches.

“Today’s world wants to come out of fixed structures and looks for
free space to develop liberal thinking. An active Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation should be created. Given that it’s the age of
professionalism, important work should be left to professionals more
than committees,” said His Holiness.

The resolution prepared by the participants was then read out and
adopted by the conference.

His Holiness Aram I delivered the concluding remarks, commending
the participants who developed useful dialogue by expressing their
concerns, and perspectives.

“The conference showed that we are not two sides; Rather, we are only
one side, members of the same family having the same concerns, the same
dreams, visions and aims. We should highlight the hard realities, our
problems, our frustration, and disappointment during such conferences
and that’s what we did. The search fro truth is conducted this way,”
said His Holiness.

The Catholicos encouraged participants to look for positive aspects
even in negative phenomena and advised never to let go of hope.

“Therefore, we should lessen what we have to say and increase our
tasks.

This meeting is not an endpoint. It’s only a phase to look at the
past to assess the present and to plan the future” said His Holiness.

His Holiness thanked and praised the organizers of the conference,
especially Hranoush Hagopian and Jirayr Tanielian for their active
participation in the preparatory works of the conference.

The participants participated in the pilgrimage to the
St. Asdvadzadzine Church in Bikfayya in the evening.

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View pictures here:

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about
the history and the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may
refer to the web page of the Catholicosate,
The Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church
is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

http://www.cathcil.org/
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