Wednesday, February 21 2018 14:03

ArmInfo. Erdogan's brother can not be a representative of the Armenian community in Turkey. The former deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, co-chairman of the  National Congress of Western Armenians Aragats Akhoyan stated this at a press conference on February 21.

Akhoyan noted that the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church in  Constantinople represents the whole Armenian community, and they can  not have a person who conducts anti-Armenian policy.

Yesterday representatives of more than 15 Armenian public  organizations, in Echmiadzin, held a rally at which they opposed the  decision of the Turkish authorities to retain the priest of the  patriarch of the diocese for Aram Ateshyan. "Intervention by the  Turkish authorities in the affairs of the AAC is unacceptable, and it  is unacceptable, and a hypocritical person who condemned the  recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Germany should not hold such  an important post," the politician noted.

At the same time, Akhoyan noted that he understands that living in  Turkey and presenting the Armenian community in this country, it is  necessary to have good relations with the authorities, however, this  does not mean that the presidency of the Constantinople diocese  should conduct the anti-Armenian policy pursued by Ateshyan.   "Ateshian hinders Armenians who converted to Islam to return to our  faith, for 3 years already, they are not holding a liturgy in the  Church of Van, explaining that he does not have money to keep the  priests in Van, while Ateshian allows himself to buy expensive  apartments" , - he noted.

Akhoyan also noted that the Armenian community of Turkey is now in a  depressed state, the part of Armenians that could influence this  situation are businessmen and do not want to spoil relations with  Turkey, the other part simply does not have the necessary levers of  influence.

As for the interference of Echmiadzin, Akhoyan said that all the  patriarchates, in fact, are autonomous, and Echmiadzin can not  interfere in the problem of internal governance. "However, somehow  the bishops receive their orders in Echmiadzin, and I am sure that  the representatives of the Supreme Council of the Church can apply  certain sanctions." Today the council will hold a meeting in  connection with the situation in the Patriarchate of Constantinople,  and I am sure that it will make the right decision. , whatever the  decision, we will continue to defend the right of the Armenian  community of Turkey to choose its leader, "Akhoyan concluded.

Note that as a result of a protracted illness of the patriarch of the  Constantinople diocese Mesrop Mutafyan, his locum tenens were  appointed Aram Ateshyan. However, on June 28, 2017, Ateshian was  removed from the post of viceroy of the Constantinople Patriarchate  of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as his views on issues of concern  to the Armenian community of Turkey, in particular, the issue of the  Armenian Genocide, were at variance with the position of the  community. Following the results of the new elections, Archbishop  Garegin Bekchyan was elected a temporary locum tenens. However, the  Turkish authorities did not recognize Bechchyan as a candidate and  again returned this post to Ateshyan, while Bakchyan left Turkey.