Jul 27, 2003, 3:25 PM

TEHRAN TIMES

Islam and Christianity's Interaction to Help Peace, Says Leader of World Armenian Church

TEHRAN, July 27 (Mehr News Agency) -- Archbishop Petros 19, leader of the world Armenian Catholic Church, who recently visited Tehran, elaborated on dialogue between Islam and Christianity, relations between religions, and prevention of violation of human rights in the world.

Commenting on the interaction between Islam and Christianity, he told the Mehr News Agency that despite all problems and obstacles in the way of two religions' cooperation, Muslims and Christians have good ties all over th world.

 

The archbishop also said that we have reached several common points in speaking with the world's experts in the Islamic affairs. Now that there is unrest in the world, leaders of the world's various religions should lay the groundwork for global peace.      

  

Since we have ourselves been victim of massacres and exile and had a bitter taste of mass destructions and expel, we seriously condemn all kinds of attacks, oppressions, and aggressions against the oppressed, said Petros 19.

 

Referring to the violation of human rights in the world and the churches' role in fighting these acts, he said, "Human rights have been interpreted in various ways, which have made the human fate and future more ambiguous than ever."          

 

He also said that to prevent such violations, Muslims and Christians should reach an agreement on taking decisions in this regard as soon as possible, and this is the first step in observance of human rights."

 

He referred to the recent visits of Cardinal Shone Brown, Cardinal Aristech, foreign minister of Vatican, and Turin archbishop to Iran, and said there were great opportunities to exchange views and negotiate with the Iranian leaders. And I stress that the more talks they have with Iranian officials, the better results they get.       

 

On the issue of violation of human rights on the part of the Zionist regime, he reiterated that the views and opinions of the Catholic Armenians are the same as those of Catholic leader. 

 

"We believe that regardless of religious affiliation, nationality, and race every individual has some rights, which should be observed.

 

"We believe that having an independent state is the right of Palestinian nation.

 

"We have repeatedly called for realizing of the Palestinian legitimate rights, but unfortunately no measure has been taken in this concern. Anyhow we hope that peace and security will be established in the Palestinian territories in the near future," the archbishop stated.  

 

He also said: we believe that cooperation between the Armenian Church and other religions will pave the way for establishment of a real peace and security in the world. "As you see wherever and whenever peace and security has been established, spirituality and divine disposition has definitely been there.  

 

"Prophets have been sent for guiding and saving the human beings, their message is human liberation. And now, we as the followers of divine religions should prepare the ground for realization of these goals," he said at the conclusion.

SN\SM

END

MNA

 

 

News ID 923

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