Aram I: We scrutinized in detail issue of restitution of Sis Catholicosate

ATHENS, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS. The Catholicos of theGreat House of Cilicia, Aram I, touched upon the issue of the lawsuit filed in the Turkish court demanding restitution of Sis Catholicosate during his visit to Greece. “Armenpress” reports that in an interview withpontos-news.grthe Catholicos said that the decision was not made in haste.

We discussed this issue even with Turkish lawyers, human rights and international law specialist. We examined the Treaty of Lausanne. That is to say, we examined the issue closely”, the Catholicos mentioned, adding that the genocide is a documented fact irrespective of Turkey’s recognition or non-recognition.

“The effects of the genocide are very serious. The entire possession of our nation, community buildings, and churches are either totally or partially ruined and the overwhelming part of them was privatized by the Turkish government. After 100 years, as a Catholicos, I declare that those constructions belong to the Armenia Church and the Armenian nation”, the Catholicos emphasized, adding that they start with the restitution of Sis Catholicosate as it has political, moral and religious importance.

Aram I emphasized that this is the first time that the Armenian nation, struggling for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, has chosen a new strategy which is to also raise the issue in judicial body.