Armenian patriarchs and Dashnaktsutyun refuse to attend Global Armenian Summit
YEREVAN, October 26. /ARKA/. The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the Lebanon-based Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, as well as the Armenian Revolutionary Federation/ Dashnaktsutyun party, the largest political party in the Diaspora, turned down invitations to participate in the Global Armenian Summit, slated for October 28-30 in Yerevan.
In an interview with the Public Television of Armenia, Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zare Sinanyan, who had personally met with both patriarchs a few months ago, said Karekin II cited the government's unfriendly attitude towards the Church as the reason behind his refusal to participate in a state-sponsored event.
According to Sinanyan, Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia told him that the atmosphere was still too unstable in Armenia, toxic and probably not quite right to gather for the summit at this point.
"By the way, I completely disagree with that position. Yes, things are confusing around us, our state is going through a fateful period and this is the moment to come together and, setting aside the differences, discuss the challenges that concern our nation," the commissioner stressed.
Touching upon Dashnaktsutyun's refusal, Sinanyan said that it was politically motivated. He added that representatives of the party were invited to the summit, but the Dashnaktsutyun's leaders decided not to participate.
Two other traditional Armenian parties -Hnchakyan and Ramkavar-Azatakan- according to Sinanyan, accepted the invitation and will send their representatives to the summit.
He disagreed with the conclusion that the absence of both patriarchs and Dashnaktsutyun from the summit meant a split within Armenians.
According to the Diaspora Commissioner, the results of the summit will be summarized and taken into account in the development of Armenia's future national policy strategy.
The Global Armenian Summit is said to have on its agenda such issues as national security, protection of Armenia's interests, development of strategic regions of the homeland, repatriation, attraction of investments, relations with the Diaspora.
The summit will be attended by nearly 600 participants from more than 40 countries, as well as Armenia and Artsakh, representing non-governmental organizations, scientific, professional, business, student and youth and other organizations. --0--
