PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: ktrij@etchmiadzin.am
March 27, 2006

His Holiness Karekin II Receives UN Resident Coordinator

On March 15, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
received Ms. Consuelo Vidal, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident
Representative to Armenia. It was the first visit of Ms. Vidal to
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

His Holiness welcomed Ms. Vidal to the center of Armenian spiritual
life, congratulated her on her appointment and wished her a productive
tenure in Armenia. The Catholicos reflected on the long-standing
successful cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the United
Nations in the spheres of rural development, healthcare and fostering
democratic governance.

During the meeting, the Pontiff of All Armenians also presented the
facts surrounding the willful and deliberate destruction of tens
of thousands of Khatchkars (Stone-Crosses) in Julfa (Nakhijevan),
stating that these acts of intolerance are crimes against culture and
religion which affect all of humanity. His Holiness urged Ms. Vidal
to pursue this matter further through the appropriate UN agencies,
since UNESCO had been notified on numerous occasions in the past few
years of the danger facing these historic Armenian Christian monuments.

Ms. Vidal thanked His Holiness for the reception and assured him
of her readiness to be of assistance to the Armenian Church and the
Mother See at all times.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress