Tweet
GEORGIAN PATRIARCH HAS NOTHING AGAINST ARMENIANS, DISAGREES WITH SAAKASHVILI'S DECISION
epress.am
07.07.2011
His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of All
Georgia, is urging Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to use his
power to veto the legislative amendments on the status of religious
associations approved by parliament earlier this week. However, as
it is already known, the legislative amendments have been signed by
the president and are already in effect.
"The primary responsibility for this rests with the president, and I
wish that he, as well as the country, feels at ease. I hope all will
be well," said the Patriarch, reports Georgia Online.
According to him, the new law on the status of religious associations
is so important and also dangerous that prior to approving it,
deputies should've have thought through what it would lead to in 10
or 100 years.
His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II also said that his remarks have
nothing against Armenians and, despite talk on the contrary, Georgians
and Armenians always have been and will remain brothers.
"When the Armenians were in trouble, we always helped, and they helped
us too when times were hard for us. It's just that this law is so
complex and responsible that it can be used for malicious purposes.
Therefore, everything must be considered. When people say why does
the church interfere in affairs of the state, I want to say that it
is not only a state affair, it is a matter that concerns the whole
of our nation, the church and especially the state," he said.
The Patriarch said that the divergence of views on this issue in
recent days also strains the relationship between the religions,
which is to be avoided.
"The Georgian people have always harbored small nations. We defended
the Armenians, the Russians, the Azeris and the Jews. The Jews
themselves said that Georgia is the only country where there has
never been any anti-Semitism," he said.
From: A. Papazian
epress.am
07.07.2011
His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos Patriarch of All
Georgia, is urging Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to use his
power to veto the legislative amendments on the status of religious
associations approved by parliament earlier this week. However, as
it is already known, the legislative amendments have been signed by
the president and are already in effect.
"The primary responsibility for this rests with the president, and I
wish that he, as well as the country, feels at ease. I hope all will
be well," said the Patriarch, reports Georgia Online.
According to him, the new law on the status of religious associations
is so important and also dangerous that prior to approving it,
deputies should've have thought through what it would lead to in 10
or 100 years.
His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II also said that his remarks have
nothing against Armenians and, despite talk on the contrary, Georgians
and Armenians always have been and will remain brothers.
"When the Armenians were in trouble, we always helped, and they helped
us too when times were hard for us. It's just that this law is so
complex and responsible that it can be used for malicious purposes.
Therefore, everything must be considered. When people say why does
the church interfere in affairs of the state, I want to say that it
is not only a state affair, it is a matter that concerns the whole
of our nation, the church and especially the state," he said.
The Patriarch said that the divergence of views on this issue in
recent days also strains the relationship between the religions,
which is to be avoided.
"The Georgian people have always harbored small nations. We defended
the Armenians, the Russians, the Azeris and the Jews. The Jews
themselves said that Georgia is the only country where there has
never been any anti-Semitism," he said.
From: A. Papazian