|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||||
|
May 22, 2002 For Immediate Release The National Citizens' Initiative
|
 |
After welcoming remarks by NCI coordinator Hrach Hakobyan, NCI Council member Arshavir Kapoudjian opened the seminar. Honorable Rafael Papayan, justice of the Armenian Constitutional Court, delivered the keynote address on "Human Rights and Christianity," while Rev. Fr. Ghevond Mayilian representing Holy Etchmiadzin and His Grace Bishop Vardan Keshishian, vice primate of the Armenian Catholic Church, commented on "The Notion of the 'Human Being' in Christianity."
 |
Very Rev. Fr. Bagrat Galstanian, dean of the Sevan Theological Seminary, and Rev. Dr. Rene Levonian, president of the Evangelical Church of Armenia, focused on "Human Rights and Public Duties." In Rev. Levonian's words, "I salute the National Citizens' Initiative for organizing this seminar. It is the first time that representatives of the three churches discuss together the connection between human rights and public responsibilities in a precise, professional way." Very Rev. Galstanian remarked that this is not simply an ordinary roundtable but also the manifestation of both our daily life and our national reality. Ludwig Khachatrian, chairman of the Arrata Cultural Association, analyzed the complex of contemporary human rights and their sources in Christianity. Finally, Karen Ghazarian of the Bioethical Development Association reflected on "Human Rights from the Vantage Point of Bioethics."
A brisk and informed discussion followed, with the participation of NCI Councilwoman Dr. Hranush Kharatyan, head of the Center for Ethnological Research; NCI Councilman Dr. Hrach Tatevian, senior lecturer at the Yerevan State Linguistic University; NCI Council member Moushegh Lalayan; and invited specialists including Avetik Ishkhanian, chairman of the Helsinki Committee; Anahit Bakhshian, principal of Yerevan's Demirjian High School; Rev. Yuri Avanesian, president of the Union of Evangelical Baptist Christian Churches; Rev. Michael West, lecturer at the Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin; Honorable Valeri Poghosian, justice of the Armenian Constitutional Court; and Dr. Levon Abrahamian of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences.
 |
The National Citizens' Initiative is a public nonprofit association founded in December 2001 by Raffi Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens' Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative's work and outreach.
For further information, please call
|
|
