YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I addressed a telegram to the President of Armenia in connection with the latter’s recent speech at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul on November 19. Below are some excerpts from the Patriarch’s message:
"Last night we followed your speech at the summit in Istanbul. This morning we considered it our duty to extend our greetings to you with infinite joy from the Cathedral of Antilias and express our deep satisfaction and high appraisal of the content of your remarks–in particular–the highly symbolic mention of the Armenian Genocide made by you.
"Indeed–addressing the Armenian Genocide–you expressly stated that we cannot forget the tragic pages of our history and the pain of genocide suffered by our people–and that this problem needs discussions to reach an acceptable solution. Your speech in Istanbul–the same place where the Armenian Genocide was plotted and perpetrated in 1915–at the summit–in the presence of over thirty presidents became a landmark event of historical significance.
"You–with the courage native to you–came to declare from the high tribune to the world that the Armenia’s have not forgotten their past and that there is no consigning the collective memory of peoples to oblivion and distorting it.
"Your clear-cut posturing at the Istanbul Summit was a reiteration of the fact that dialogue–relations and even cooperation among states do not mean ignoring human rights and justice.
"In this connection we reassure you that the Cilician Catholicosate and I personally will always be behind the Armenian state as ardent advocates of the holy cause of strengthening Armenia."