CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF INDIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 07 2007

NEW DELHI, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness
Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians met on March 4 in New Delhi
with President of the Republic of India Abdul Kalam. Welcoming
the Catholicos of All Armenians, President Kalam touched upon the
centuries-old friendship of the Armenian and Indian peoples. He
especially emphasized the important role of the Armenian merchants in
the 17-19th centuries in the economic and public development of the
cities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. Abdul Kalam expressed happiness
for the relations developing between Armenia and India especially
during the recent 15 years. His Holiness, in his turn welcoming the
Indian President, expressed satisfaction for the careful attitude
always displayed by the Indian authorities towards the national
minorities, mentioning that Armenian sons settled in India have
always been free in organizing their national and spiritual life. His
Holiness Patriarch also expressed impressions from his Indian visit
to the President, particularly recalling his visits to the cities of
New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. His Holiness also fixed with
satisfaction that the Armenian Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta,
Armenian churches and structures, Armenian graveyards are well
cared. The Catholicos of All Armenians expressed his gratitude
to the Indian people and state for the humanitarian aid shown to
Armenia during the 1988 earthquake days as well as for today’s
continual assistance in the spheres of agriculture and development
of technologies.

Education of Armenian and Indian youth in different institutions of
higher education of Armenia and India were attached importance during
the meeting. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, RA Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to India Ashot Kocharian, priest Ktrich Devejian and
monk Hovnan Hakobian accompanied His Holiness. Ambassador of India to
Armenia Rina Pandey was also present at the meeting. The Catholicos
of All Armenians returned the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin late on
March 5.