CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS MEETS WITH PACE PRESIDENT

ARKA News Agency
Aug 19 2005

YEREVAN, August 19. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II
has held a meeting with PACE Chairman Rene Van Der Linden, who is
on a visit to Armenia. During the meeting Garegin II thanked the
PACE Chairman for the CE’s assistance to Armenia in consolidating
democracy and settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as in
Armenia’s integration into Europe. “We are hopeful that with the help
of Council of Europe we will make peace in the region irreversible
and ensure a fair settlement of the Karabakh problem, which is our
special concern,” Garegin II said.

In his turn, speaking of PACE’s activities aimed to consolidate
democratic values and human rights protection, the PACE Chairman
pointed out an important role of Churches and religious, which can
greatly contribute to the consolidation of these values by means
of dialogues. The sides also discussed challenges to the Armenian
Apostolic Church and the Armenians, Nagorno-Karabakh peace process,
as well as the possibility of diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey.

Attending the meeting were Vice-Speaker of the RA Parliament and
Head of the Georgian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Vazgen
Mirzakhanyan. P.T. -0–