Member of the Turkish parliament, the pro-Kurdish oppositional “Democratic Peoples’ Party” member Garo Paylan addressed a question to Turkish Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu on the situation created in Constantinople Patriarchate.
In his question to Soylu, Paylan described the situation in the Patriarchate in detail, stressing that in case the Armenian community wants to elect a new Patriarch, the interference of the state in this election is nothing else but a violation of the rights of the Armenian community.
“What grounds does the state have to participate in the election of the patriarch of the Armenian community? The current Patriarch, Mesrop Mutkafyan can stay alive for years with his illness. In this case, when you announce that there will be no election until Patriarch dies, do you mean that the Patriarchate will be managed by your designated administrator for many years?
Besides, after the referendum held on April 16, President Erdogan demanded the elections of the Patriarch to be organized as soon as possible. What did change after that and why did he try to impede the electoral process?
During his visit to Greece, President Erdogan criticized that Mufti elections are not held in Western Thrace. In that case, how would you estimate the impediment to the election of the Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, ignoring church traditions, appointment of an administrator as a manager by the state by ignoring church traditions, and imposing these decisions on the Armenian community?”, Armenian MP said in his question.
Let us remind that on February 5, the Istanbul Governor’s Office sent a letter to the Patriarchate. The letter stated that the state considers the election of Karekin Archbishop Bekchian as Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople on March 15, 2017, and the decisions he made during that period invalid, and recognizes Aram Ateshian as head of the Patriarchate, who received powers of Vicar Patriarch by the Council of Ministers in 2010. The letter emphasizes that patriarchal elections cannot be held as long as Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan is alive.
On February 9, a religious convention convened at the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to meet the demands of the state and restore Aram Ateshian for the post of the Patriarch.
Agos