Istanbul based Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafian criticized yesterday's protest outside of Bilgi University against the Armenian conference taking place there, saying "This absurd comedy is not a good thing." The Patriarch noted that such strong reaction to a conference was unnecessary, adding that he wished for tolerance in the face of such events.

Said Mutafian, "There are some subjects which we just manage to turn into an absurdity. The conference in Istanbul is one of these things. It really has not turned out to be a very good message. There are always going to opposing thinkers, in Turkey and in the world. Civilized people are able to sit down and discuss things. Science and information are impossible with such sensitive reactions. They cannot coexist. Which is why such matters have to be approached with more open minds, with more tolerance. As you can see anyway, the conference has taken place and is now finished, and nothing was destroyed."