Armenian catholicos stresses need for dialogue

The Daily Star (Lebanon)
January 8, 2013 Tuesday

Armenian catholicos stresses need for dialogue

Aram I Keshishian, the Armenian Orthodox Catholicos of Cilicia, said
that Christians in the Middle East oppose marginalization and praised
efforts by President Michel Sleiman to push for dialogue among various
Lebanese factions.

BEIRUT: Aram I Keshishian, the Armenian Orthodox Catholicos of
Cilicia, said that Christians in the Middle East oppose
marginalization and praised efforts by President Michel Sleiman to
push for dialogue among various Lebanese factions. “The Middle East is
the cradle of Christianity, thus, despite the difficulties and
challenges the region is witnessing, particularly the sufferings of
the Christian sects, these will remain attached to their historical
roots and just rights,” said Keshishian during a Christmas Mass at the
Armenian Patriarchate in Antelias. The Armenian Orthodox sect in
Lebanon celebrated Christmas Sunday. He said he expects that the
rights of Christians will be respected by the new groups that are
coming to power in countries that are witnessing uprisings in the
region. “To be a minority in a society does not mean at all to be
marginalized.” Keshishian stressed the need to hold dialogue in
Lebanon. “Rather than trading barbs through audiovisual media outlets,
we should resort to constructive dialogue and consider that Lebanon’s
high interest come first.”

From: Baghdasarian