Catholic World News, MA
Jan 28 2005

Pope meets Armenian president, urges end to violence

Vatican, Jan. 28 (CWNews.com) – Armenian President Robert Kotcharian
met with Pope John Paul II (bio – news) on January 28, during the
course of a diplomatic tour in Italy.

During their brief conversation, the Pope stressed his hope for “true
and lasting peace in the Nagorno-Karabagh region.” where Armenia and
Azerbaijan have been engaged in a lengthy dispute that has cost
30,000 lives and forced many thousands of families to flee their
homes to escape the fighting. A ceasefire in 1994 ended the open
fighting, but a large portion of the Nagorno-Karabagh territory
remains under Armenian control, disputed by Azerbaidjan; this the
tension in the region is continuing. Pope John Paul voiced his hope
that these tensions could be resolved through “patient dialogue
between the parties,” with the help of international mediators.

The Holy Father also spoke of the “friendly and respectful relations
between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church,” which
has the allegiance of over 90 percent of the people in Armenia. The
Pontiff recalled his visit to Armenia in 2001, when the country
celebrated the 1700th anniversary of its establishment as a Christian
nation.

The meeting between the Pope and President Kotcharian was their third
encounter. They had previously met in Rome in March 1999, and then
again during the Pope’s trip in September 2001.

After his meeting with the Pope, Kotcharian also spoke privately with
the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano