The Communication Department of the Catholicosate turned down an invitation addressed to His Holiness Aram I for a live interview on a Turkish satellite TV channel. In the letter of invitation, the "Armenian issue" appears among the topics to be discussed. Referring to the offer of an interview, the Communication Department reminds that "for the Armenians there is no so-called "Armenian issue". The Armenian Genocide is a fact of history and as such it is not a subject for discussion, negotiation or dialogue. Turkey must accept the genocide committed against the Armenian people in 1915 by its forefathers". The letter of the Communication Department also emphasizes the vital importance of reparation: "You should know that thousands of churches, monasteries, religious sites, cultural and social institutions, hospitals, community center (not to mention hundred thousands of individual properties and movable and immovable properties) have been confiscated by the Turkish government. The return of these properties to their rightful owners is the legitimate right of the Armenian people". In conclusion the letter states: "Ignoring the rights of the Armenian people and reacting aggressively to initiatives in support of justice and human rights do not help to create rapprochement between our nations". The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of the Armenian Orthodox Church. Its jurisdiction extends over the Armenian Communities in the Middle East, Europe and North and South America. The Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon. /// Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia - Communication and Information Department.

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