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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
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October 2, 2006

His Holiness Karekin II Receives President of France in Holy Etchmiadzin

On Sunday morning, October 1, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, received His Excellency Jacques Chirac,
President of the Republic of France and his high-ranking delegation of
Ministers from the French government.  Accompanying the French President
were Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia; Edward Nalbandian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to France;
and Henry Cuny, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Armenia.
 
Welcoming President Chirac to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His
Holiness expressed his joy that the 15th anniversary of independence for the
Republic of Armenia was highlighted by the visit of the president of France,
as well as through the events commencing in France this month under the
auspices of the French Government entitled "The Year of Armenia in France".

His Holiness Karekin II stated, "Your visit to Armenia and Holy Etchmiadzin
is a fitting testimony to the centuries of friendship between our two
nations.  From the center of Armenian spiritual life and on behalf of our
Nation and our Church, we express our gratitude to you and to the people of
France for the support and assistance they have provided to our newly
independent country, to our homeland, and to our people throughout the last
century.

"We recall with gratitude that France graciously accepted the children of
our nation who survived the tragedy of genocide, and today, due to the
caring and kind attitude of the French authorities, the Armenians enjoy the
full benefits of being French citizens, while living their national and
spiritual lives to the fullest."

The Pontiff of All Armenians also extended his appreciation to the
authorities of France for their legal recognition and strong condemnation of
the Genocide of the Armenians.  His Holiness appropriately noted that this
recognition was among the first in the world, and that it brought justice
not only for the Armenian victims, survivors and their descendants, but also
to all of mankind.

President Chirac, expressing his joy on the occasion of his visit to the
headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church, thanked His Holiness for the
warm reception and offered his respects to the Armenian Church and the
Armenian Pontiff.  "We are happy to be in the place where Christianity was
officially established for the Armenian people.  Due to the tides of
history, there are many people in France of Armenian descent and origin. 
This has contributed greatly to the long-standing friendship enjoyed between
the French and Armenian peoples and our two countries", stated the French
president.

Referring to the Armenian Genocide, President Chirac noted in part: "It’s
only natural that France was to be one of the first countries to recognize
the Armenian Genocide by law… I hope that by recognizing and condemning
such crimes, they will never happen again in future."

Among other topics discussed by His Holiness and President Chirac were the
increasing economic and political cooperation between the two states, the
growing sphere of cultural relations between the two countries, and the
important role of France in the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict.  President Chirac affirmed that as one of the co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk group, France will continue to support the resolution of the
issue within the frameworks of the established working process.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Holiness Karekin II and President
Jacques Chirac visited the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin and the
Museum of the Cathedral.

His Eminence Archbishop Kude Nakkashian, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe
and Primate of the Diocese of Paris; His Grace Bishop Arshak Khachatrian,
Chancellor of the Mother See; and members of the Brotherhood of Holy
Etchmiadzin also attended the meeting.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress