by Daoud Kuttab

Three Armenian clubs in Jerusalem issued a joint statement on Saturday demanding to see the controversial lease of the lands of the Armenian Monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem. They also asked the patriarch to withdraw his signature from the disputed contract and offered to support the patriarch if he withdrew the lease.

The three clubs: Homenetmen, Hoyetchment & Paresiradz (JAB) acknowledged “with gratitude” King Abdullah II and President Mahmoud Abbas for their defense of the Armenian community and for their “integrity in and their commitment to the rights of the Armenian community and the Christian presence in Jerusalem.

A group of Armenian citizens held a sit-in on Friday night in the square of the monastery for the second week in a row, demanding that the Patriarch reveal the lease agreement for the strategic Cows Garden area, which was leased for 99 years to an Australian Jewish investor to build a seven-star hotel on it.

Hagob Djernazian, one of the organizers said that the land loss will be a big blow to Armenians. “If we lose this land we will lose 25 percent out of 100 from the Armenian Quarter”

Other speakers at the protest were: Historian George Hintilian, Setrag Balian, and Serop Sahagian. 

A number of Armenian newspapers published the news that the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II had made a telephone conversation with the Armenian patriarch in Jerusalem. The Armenian newspapers said that the telephone conversation was about the alarming circumstances that arose as a result of the lease transaction of the national property “Koveru Pertez”, which is of great importance.

Attempts to solicit a response from the Patriarchate failed.
The official spokesman of the Armenian Patriarchate, Chancellor Aghan was contacted but he refused to provide any information on the matter, saying that he is not permitted by the Armenian Church’s Synod to answer questions dealing with the land lease. The spokesman confirmed that the patriarch had received a phone call from Karekin II, but refused to disclose the details of the call saying that the call was “private”.

Jordanian TV presented a long report as part of the program “Eye on Jerusalem” in the section dealing with the issue of renting the lands of the Armenian monastery and suspending the recognition of the patriarch, including an interview with the Palestinian ambassador to Denmark, Dr. Manuel Hassasian. You can watch it here.