YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community of Istanbul hopes in the coming period the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul will intensify its activity as soon as possible, editor-in-chief of Istanbul’s Armenian “Zhamanak” daily Ara Gochunyan told ARMENPRESS.

“The patriarchal locum tenens Archbishop Garegin Bekchyan will return to Istanbul from Cologne on June 20 after which the Initiative committee will be formed. They will submit application to the Istanbul governorate and based on their response the process will pass to more practical stage”, he said.

Ara Gochunyan said at the moment there are two versions: the first one is that the authorities will quickly respond to the application as a result of which it will be possible to quickly organize the elections, and the second one is that the authorities’ response may late. “At the moment there is an optimistic atmosphere, and there is a possibility for the first version. This process requires a very responsible work. All vigilant people in the community hope lessons will be learned from the experience of the past 9 years so that the continuation of the process will be free of polarization and full of spirit of purposefulness and unity”, Gochunyan said.

He attached importance to the fact that the respective authorities have started to recognize Bekchyan as being patriarchal locum tenens. At the same time, he also welcomed the Armenian community’s balanced stance during the entire critical period. According to him, many people had their impact on the positive settlement of the issue. Govhunyan also appreciated the contribution of head of Board of Trustees of St. Slavery hospital Petros Shirinoglu. “Yes, there were ups and downs, but at least the problem has entered to solution stage. I believe we will overcome this stage with honor”, he said.

Ara Gochunyan also commented on the issue whether Ateshyan will be nominated as candidate of Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, stating that it is still too early to speak about it. “We have gone through a difficult period. Therefore, we need a brotherly cooperation spirit at the full vigor of our clergymen, in particular, at bishop level. We don’t have the luxury to refuse from any of our bishops. Thus, the community’s vigilant people are hopeful that the misunderstandings and mistrusts of this stage will be overcome, and our clergymen will continue their mission with normal relations and cooperation spirit”, Ara Gochunyan said.

Araks Kasyan