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Diocesan Legate Attends World Religions Summit in Canada

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  • Diocesan Legate Attends World Religions Summit in Canada

    PRESS OFFICE
    Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
    630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
    Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
    Contact: Karine Abalyan
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net

    July 30, 2010


    Diocesan Legate Attends World Religions Summit in Canada Archbishop
    Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, represented the Mother
    See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the National Council of Churches at the
    World Religions Summit in Winnipeg, Canada.

    The three-day gathering, held June 21-23, was scheduled on the eve of
    the G8 and G20 summits taking place in Muskoka and Toronto, Canada, at
    the end of June. (The Group of Eight and Group of Twenty meetings
    bring together government leaders and finance ministers to review
    global issues and international economic development).

    About 80 religious leaders, from more than 20 countries, took part in
    the World Religions Summit, which focused on reducing global poverty,
    addressing climate change, and improving global security.

    His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and a
    founder and current president of the Middle East Council of Churches,
    represented the See of Cilicia, accompanied by Archbishop Sebouh
    Sarkissian and Archbishop Khajag Hagopian.

    At the summit, the Armenian Church's Diocese of Canada was represented
    by its Primate, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, accompanied by Dn. Hagop
    Arslanian.

    The three focus areas - poverty, climate change, and global security -
    reflect the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations
    in 2000. Religious leaders called on governments to pay particular
    attention to these issues in the coming years. The deadline for
    achieving the goals, as set by the UN member states, is 2015.

    In a joint statement issued after the meeting, participants emphasized
    that through cooperation and perseverance communities and governments
    can affect change worldwide.

    "In our diverse faith traditions, we have rich histories and powerful
    dreams of ending poverty, caring for the Earth, and being
    peace-builders," the statement reads. "While recognizing efforts
    already made to address many of these challenges, we expect government
    representatives to set aside short-term agendas and work together for
    a future that allows all people on this planet to thrive."

    Through a series of lectures and workshops, religious leaders spoke
    about ways countries might establish development assistance programs,
    improve educational opportunities for children, reduce environmental
    damage, and prevent military aggression. Representatives of the
    Christian,

    Bahá'í,

    Aboriginal, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Shinto, and Sikh
    religious traditions took part in the sessions.

    "Our faith traditions are steeped in the promotion of love for one
    another and deep respect for all humankind; peace and justice walk
    hand in hand," they wrote in the joint statement. "Our most inspiring
    teachings are stories of reconciliation and compassion. We will
    collaborate to create paths of peaceful and sustainable coexistence."

    Archbishop Aykazian said the three-day event provided a forum for rich
    discussions among the world's religious leaders, and encouraged
    participants to synthesize ideas in a way that might be useful to
    government officials and other policy makers.

    All sessions were held at the University of Winnipeg in Manitoba.
    ###

    Photo attached: Archbishop Vicken Aykazian and Bishop Bagrat
    Galstanian at the World Religions Summit in Winnipeg, Canada.




    From: A. Papazian
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