wfn.org | CEC President attends commemoration of Armenian genocide

["Ruth Gill" <rag@cec-kek.org>]

Conference of European Churches - Office of  Communications
Press Release No. 05-18/e				    26 April 2005

CEC PRESIDENT ATTENDS COMMEMORATION
OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN EREVAN AND ETCHMIADZIN

Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, President of the Conference of European
Churches (CEC), took part in the ceremonies commemorating the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Erevan and Etchmiadzin, Armenia,
on 24 April 2005.

During the Divine Liturgy in the cathedral of Etchmiadzin, Rev. de
Clermont presented a statement on the Armenian genocide issued by the
Presidium of CEC earlier in April (see our Press Release of 14 April
2005).

In a private meeting, Rev. de Clermont personally handed a copy of the
statement to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

During a ceremony in the cathedral of Erevan, in the presence of the
President of the Armenian Republic, the members of the Government, the
diplomatic corps, and a large congregation, church representatives along
with Rev. de Clermont offered prayers of intercession each in their own
language. The Orthodox Churches of Russia, Greece, and Romania as well as
the Syrian Orthodox and Anglican Churches were represented.

Answering questions from journalists, Rev. de Clermont underlined that,
for CEC member churches, the recognition by Turkey of the 1915 genocide
and the respect for the values upon which the European Union is founded
are pre-conditions for the accession of Turkey to the EU. He also noted
that atrocities on the territory of today's Turkey were not only committed
against Armenians but also against other Christian and ethnic minorities,
in particular Greek and Syrian.

* * * *

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125
Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all
countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in
1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

For information:
Office of Communications
Conference of European Churches
Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or 791 63 25
Fax +41 22 791 62 27
e-mail Luca.Negro@cec-kek.org