CATHOLICOS ARAM I PRESIDES OVER HIGH-LEVEL CONSULTATION WITH LEBANESE-ARMENIAN PARTIES

At the invitation of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, the three Armenian political parties in Lebanon— the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and the Armenian Democratic Liberal (Ramgavar) Party — convened at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias for a high-level consultation session on Monday, March 23. The session, chaired by His Holiness, addressed the rapidly evolving situation in Lebanon against the backdrop of the ongoing regional war.

His Holiness opened the session with a comprehensive analysis of the origins, developments, and strategic objectives of the war in the Middle East, followed by a briefing on the conditions facing Armenian communities across the Armenian Prelacy jurisdictions of the affected countries. Participants engaged in substantive discussions on the military and political dynamics shaping the region, with particular focus on Lebanon.

The assembly highlighted the civilizational and economic aspects of the regional conflict, as well as the profound humanitarian crisis it has triggered. Key concerns raised included the unprecedented surge in internal Lebanese displacement, the resulting demographic shifts, mounting domestic hardships, a deepening economic crisis, and the far-reaching consequences these developments pose for Lebanese society and its Armenian community.

Following thorough deliberations, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I issued the following directives:

1. The war in the Middle East — aimed at fundamentally redrawing the region’s political map — is generating widespread disruption that inevitably affects local Armenian communities.
2. Spiritual and national leaders across each Prelacy are called to exercise heightened vigilance, avoid dangerous situations, and coordinate with their respective state authorities on emergency preparedness measures.
3. The Armenian community in Lebanon reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the foundational principles of the Lebanese state, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and internal security and peace.
4. In light of the severe hardships Lebanon continues to endure, coordinated efforts to preserve peace in Armenian-populated neighborhoods and sustain charitable activities must be maintained and strengthened.
5. The Lebanese-Armenian community must remain vigilant and resolute, refraining from involvement in internal Lebanese polarizations and tensions, and upholding its longstanding tradition of pursuing solutions through dialogue.
6. Armenian charitable organizations are encouraged to coordinate their efforts in delivering humanitarian and social assistance to those in need.

In closing, His Holiness Aram I commended the spirit of unity demonstrated through the joint session and emphasized that such consultative meetings — particularly in times of crisis — are not only valuable but essential to the cohesion and resilience of the Armenian community.