"THE PARLIAMENT IS THE VOICE AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE"
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BARCELONA - “As the voice and the political will of the people, the parliament should act with this sense of responsibility and accountability” said His Holiness Aram I at the Parliament of Catalonia, Spain. “Religion is the voice of the people too, furthermore, religion is called to be the voice of God. If parliament is accountable to the people, religion is first and foremost accountable to God. But religion and political institutions are partners. Although there exist a qualitative difference between religion and parliament, they must respect their differences. We must work together, because we have common objectives, namely the dignity, justice, peace, human rights and well being of people”.
Referring to the two references made by the president of the Parliament in his welcoming speech, His Holiness Aram I emphasized the pivotal importance of dialogue: “Dialogue is no more a conceptual notion; it is part of our daily life. Dialogue is no more an initiative pertaining exclusively to religions. All the stakeholders of civil society must engage in dialogue. Indeed, dialogue is rejection of self centered existence; it is opening ourselves to the others. Dialogue is interactive approach to the realities and problems that we face in different spheres of our common life. Dialogue is a firm commitment to being together, reflecting and acting together, by preserving our distinctiveness and particularities as cultures, religions and nations. Religion has a major role to play in promoting a culture of dialogue. Only such a culture will become a source of peace against violence, a source of trust against hatred, a source of justice against injustice, a source of living together as community against all trends which lead our societies to disintegration and polarization”.
Catholicos Aram I also criticized the crucial importance of integration in the life of societies: “We must live as communities, not as separate groups co-existing side by side. If co-existence is not transformed into a common life together, it may generate tension. What we need today is to develop communities of integrated diversities. The role of religion in this respect is critical. Religion could be both a source if integration and a factor of disintegration. Religious leaders have a major role of promoting the positive role of religion as bridge builder, community developer and integration facilitator”.
The second speaker was the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Khatami. Welcoming the particular emphasis laid by His Holiness Aram I on the role of the Parliament, and the necessity of dialogue and integration, president Khatami in his turn developed the notion of the parliament being the household of the people. He said that the parliament must work for the well being of the people in all spheres of their life.
The third speaker was Dr. Abdulaziz Otheman Altwaijiri. He stressed the importance of dialogue of religions and cultures. He stated the commitment of his organization to working together as partners with all actors of civil society for peace building, as well as for the promotion of cultural, educational and human values.
At the end of the official ceremony the Speaker of the House presented gifts to Catholicos Aram I, President Khatami and Dr. Altwaijiri.
Referring to the two references made by the president of the Parliament in his welcoming speech, His Holiness Aram I emphasized the pivotal importance of dialogue: “Dialogue is no more a conceptual notion; it is part of our daily life. Dialogue is no more an initiative pertaining exclusively to religions. All the stakeholders of civil society must engage in dialogue. Indeed, dialogue is rejection of self centered existence; it is opening ourselves to the others. Dialogue is interactive approach to the realities and problems that we face in different spheres of our common life. Dialogue is a firm commitment to being together, reflecting and acting together, by preserving our distinctiveness and particularities as cultures, religions and nations. Religion has a major role to play in promoting a culture of dialogue. Only such a culture will become a source of peace against violence, a source of trust against hatred, a source of justice against injustice, a source of living together as community against all trends which lead our societies to disintegration and polarization”.
Catholicos Aram I also criticized the crucial importance of integration in the life of societies: “We must live as communities, not as separate groups co-existing side by side. If co-existence is not transformed into a common life together, it may generate tension. What we need today is to develop communities of integrated diversities. The role of religion in this respect is critical. Religion could be both a source if integration and a factor of disintegration. Religious leaders have a major role of promoting the positive role of religion as bridge builder, community developer and integration facilitator”.
The second speaker was the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Khatami. Welcoming the particular emphasis laid by His Holiness Aram I on the role of the Parliament, and the necessity of dialogue and integration, president Khatami in his turn developed the notion of the parliament being the household of the people. He said that the parliament must work for the well being of the people in all spheres of their life.
The third speaker was Dr. Abdulaziz Otheman Altwaijiri. He stressed the importance of dialogue of religions and cultures. He stated the commitment of his organization to working together as partners with all actors of civil society for peace building, as well as for the promotion of cultural, educational and human values.
At the end of the official ceremony the Speaker of the House presented gifts to Catholicos Aram I, President Khatami and Dr. Altwaijiri.
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