Church and diplomacy

Ambassador John Evans, former American ambassador to Armenia, who will be honored during the Assembly banquet tonight as the “Friend of the Armenians” spoke to delegates about “the church and diplomacy.”

After speaking openly about the Armenian Genocide, in contrast to official Armenian policy, Ambassador Evans “retired” from the foreign service and left Armenia last September, a year earlier than he was scheduled to leave his post.

He is now working on a book about the Armenian Genocide which traces his intellectual voyage from being someone with no Armenian connection or knowledge to someone who has studied the culture.

“I’m hoping by tracing my own intellectual voyage to bring some other individuals into the circle, people who don’t have Armenian names, to try to bring them along to understanding why this issue is so important,” he said.

In talking about church and diplomacy, he noted that both arenas use some of the same tools. Additionally, in the past national churches worked jointly with state authorities, though with secularization diplomats have lost the connection to priests.

“Today’s diplomats, and I emphatically include American diplomats, have developed a tin ear for religious issues,” he said. “Why is that? It is because here, in our American political life, we draw such a solid line between church and state.”

“As diplomats overseas we should not be blind and deaf to diplomatic developments,” he said. “In my 35 years in the Foreign Service, I found we were blind. We were deaf, too. Not only to Islam, but even Christianity.”

He noted that his first assignment was in Iran, and there the diplomatic community was blind to religion and did not see the changes coming in Islam. Additionally, he said international religious leaders who write to American officials are often unanswered because staff does not understand the importance of religion.

“All of the churches and all of the religions have more influence today than the U.N., OSCE, OPEC, you name it,” he said. “I believe diplomats who are blind and deaf and do not get to know the churchmen, or in some cases women, in the countries of their assignment are hobbling themselves they are crippling their work.”

As an example of diplomats being blind to religion, he noted that in August 2000 there were two major events in Russia. One was the sinking of a submarine, which, because of American technology and focus of its experts American officials knew about it moments after it happened. That same day there was an enormous convocation of Russian Orthodox believers at the Cathedral of the Holy Savior in Moscow.

“Not only U.S. Embassy official knew it was happening. Not one officer was there. No one talked about the reasons for it,” he said. “This was a major milestone in the rebirth of the Russian Orthodox Church after the fall of communism. And we missed it.”

He listed three tools that religious institutions can use to influence diplomacy and public policy: visits by high-ranking church leaders, letters to officials, and offering of prayers.

As an example of visits, he noted the recent visit to Turkey by His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. He also spoke about a letter written in 1965 from Polish Catholic Bishops to their German peers to seek forgiveness and ask for forgiveness.

He also told a personal story about a letter that did not get sent. In 2005, when the avian flu hit Azerbaijan and Eastern Turkey, he had gone to Armenian officials to urge them to offer assistance to the Turkish people. They did not, so Ambassador Evans thought about writing a letter to the Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, to suggest he pray for the dead Turkish children. But the embassy staff did would not allow him to send the letter.

“I do think offering prayers, even for one’s longtime enemies, can be a positive thing,” he said.

He then spoke about the Armenian Genocide and the importance of recognition and apology.

“Contrition on the part of today’s Turks is necessary. Only after contrition can there be forgiveness,” he said.

“I do think at some future date, this progression through recognizing the truth must include an apology or contrition some definite act by Turks,” he continued. “Legally, a son is not guilty of the crimes of his father, or much less his grandfather. But, Turkish government officials, although it is a new state, it’s not the same enterprise but a continuation of the same sovereignty. It does seem to me that it is incumbent upon the Turks in some way, although their state may not be held guilty of genocide, there needs to be an apology.”

The Primate thanked Ambassador Evans for his remarks.

“You are a partner for bringing reconciliation and peace among the people, so we pray that the Lord will grant you many, many years so you can continue your mission to be a wonderful leader of our country,” he said. “This evening it will be our honor to say thank you for your ministry and mission which you have done so well.”

Posted by Jake at May 5, 2007 10:51 AM