ArmenPress
Jan 28 2005
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS POPE JOHN PAUL II
VATICAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Robert
Kocharian who is in Italy on a four-day official visit met today with
UN World Food Program Director Jacques Deuffi. The latter highly
assessed the pace of cooperation with Armenia.
In his turn Armenian President expressed hope that the cooperation
with UN World Food Program will expand more in future. At present
Armenia and this organization implement 5 programs costing 1.7
million USD.
Robert Kocharian also met with the head of the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD) L. Bogey and the latter highly
assessed the reforms that are being implemented in Armenia in the
agricultural sphere.
L. Bogey assured that the present speed of the cooperation will
continue. After the meeting a credit program costing 20 million USD
was signed – 10 millions will be provided for the development of
agricultural economy and the other 10 million for the development of
village communities’ infrastructures.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian visited today Vatican where he
met with Pope John Paul II.
“Your presence here reminds me of our first meeting in Vatican in
March, 1999, on the opening occasion of Rome-Armenia exhibition and
also of our meeting in Yerevan on the 1700th anniversary of the
adoption of Christianity by the Armenians. I use with pleasure the
opportunity to greet all the people in Armenia and those Armenians
who are in different parts of the world but united by Christian and
cultural ties,” said John Paul II.
The Pope referred to the good relations with Holy See and said “I
know that Catholic community is respected in Armenia and all its
initiatives promote the increase of prosperity of the whole people.
The relations between the Catholic and Armenian Apostolic churches
are based on mutual respect and relationship.”
After the meeting with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Armenian
President visited the Saint Grigor Lusavoritch monument which was
erected in Vatican and blessed by the Pope on January 19. Here the
President was greeted by the Armenian Catholic clergymen. Later the
President met with the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berluskoni.