Istanbul Patriarch Criticizes Senate's Armenian Genocide Resolution

The Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, Bishop Sahak Mashalyan, has given an interview to the Turkish newspaper "Sabah," discussing the recent adoption of the Armenian Genocide resolution by the U.S. Senate, as reported by ermenihaber.am.

In his remarks about the resolution, Mashalyan stated: "There are things that should not be overemphasized. Resolutions are continuously being adopted in parliaments. They are not matters that concern us directly or require our intervention. As Armenians in Turkey, it pains us that the tragic events that occurred in these lands 100 years ago are being used in other countries' parliaments as tools for strategic, economic, and political pressure. We want the people living in these lands to speak about the issues that took place here. We especially wish for the relations between Turkey and Armenia to be regulated so that both sides can engage in dialogue. Since the sides cannot communicate with each other, the right to speak has been reserved for third or fourth parties, those across the ocean.

If only the Armenia-Turkey protocols could be implemented, the Vienna meetings could take place, and a joint commission of historians could be established. These are all matters we need to settle. Since all of these are being postponed, the issue is used as leverage to pressure Turkey. The 'Armenian thesis' brought to the fore suggests that we are simply being used. I do not consider this moral. The issue has a political side. Interpreting it is the job of politicians. I am not a politician.

As an Armenian community, we are integrated into Turkish society. While remembering what happened 100 years ago, we have forgotten by remembering. This is the choice of the Armenian community in Istanbul. We have chosen to live here. And this circumstance makes us different from the Armenians in the Diaspora and Armenia. Political issues unfolding outside the Armenian community in Turkey have an impact on us, willingly or unwillingly. The provocation of such issues in Turkey adds to the discourse of hatred."