Representatives of the Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri visit His Holiness Aram I

The representatives met His Holiness Aram I at the Monastery in Bikfaya. Mr. Jean Salmanian, the representative of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia on the National Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee, also attended the meeting.

 

The purpose of the visit was to invite His Holiness Aram I to the forthcoming annual commemorative gathering dedicated to Imam Musa Sadr. On this occasion they also discussed with the Catholicos the political and economic situation in Lebanon and issues concerning security, and informed him of their meetings with the other Heads of religious communities in Lebanon.

 

After thanking them for the visit and the invitation, the Catholicos told them of his experience as young priest with the disappeared Imam, and then shared with them his three concerns: 1) Security should be everyone’s priority irrespective of all other considerations; 2) the events in the region should not destabilize Lebanon; 3) Christian-Muslim dialogue should continue notwithstanding circumstances. His Holiness Aram I then assured them of the commitment of the Armenian community to these issues.