The only solution for the election crisis at the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul is the organization of fair elections, ethnic Armenian MP of Turkey Garo Paylan said in an interview with Armenpress.
Turkey MP Garo Paylan denounces state interference in Armenian Patriarchate affairs
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 16, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS:Paylan called on the Armenian community of Istanbul not to lose hope and not to accept what is being imposed.
The election process of a patriarch once again entered a deadlock with the Istanbul Governor’s Office letter. Turkey interfered into Armenian church affairs. How do you see the solution of this process?
Crises in democratic structures are solved through democratic elections, through voting. In this case the solution is undoubtedly voting. The Armenian community must be able to organize patriarchal elections without any interference. And everyone should respect the result which will come out of the ballot box.
Do you see the guilt of Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, who remained in office as patriarchal vicar, for the fact that the process reached this situation?
Of course. He was guided not by the interests of the Armenian community, but rather his own. He has entered into a dishonest cooperation with a group of people from within the state, which goal was appointing an enforcer on top of the Armenian community. Thus, he ignored the interests of the [Armenian] community, and at the same time ignored church traditions.
In his final letter before departing the elected locum tenens Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan wrote that this situation can be a reason of division within the Armenian community. Do you agree with the Archbishop?
I definitely agree. There is a chaos inside Turkey, which, naturally is also affecting the Armenian community. Developments in this period of concern for the future of the Armenian community are dividing our structures.
What will you say to the Armenian community of Istanbul?
I urge them not be discouraged whatsoever and not to accept what is being imposed on them. As an Armenian community, we must focus on these election, to which we are entitled, for elimination of the chaos in the spiritual and secular world. We must aim to reach a powerful community, correctly governerd in spiritual and secular terms. I repeat in all platforms that this goal stems from Turkey’s interests also. I will continue efforts in this direction. I urge everyone who feels responsibility in this matter to join these efforts.
