PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
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PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
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A MEETING BETWEEN PROF. TANER AKÇAM AND ARMENIAN SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS
On Thursday 7 January 2010 at 18:00hrs at the Gulbenkian Hall of the Cilicia
Museum Prof. Taner Akçam the Turkish Dissident Historian met with seventy
five Armenian Scholars and Researchers. It was the first time Armenian
Scholars and Historians were discussing the Armenian Genocide with a Turkish
Historian who courageously has spoken against the official position of his
government on this issue for more than a decade.
Prof. Taner Akçam spoke of the importance of dialogue between the two
peoples. The two peoples had now to talk because it was important for the
Turkish public to hear of the premeditated crime of the Ottomans. After
Akçam’s brief presentation the audience discussed with the historian the
conditions under which collective memories will heal and justice will be
restored.
In concluding the evening, His Holiness Aram I thanked the speaker and the
participants for their honest exchange of ideas, and then added: "So far
Armenians and Turks were engaged in a monologue each stating its position.
It is time to move from monologue to dialogue based on facts, hoping that
such dialogue among people will lead to a common strategy for advocacy and
action." His Holiness stated that he believes in dialogue; however "a
meaningful dialogue takes place only on the basis of truth and justice,
namely the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey".
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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.