“Artsakh’s Crisis is Not Only Humanitarian But Also a Political Issue Linked to the Right to Self-Determination of Armenians”: Catholicos Aram I to the US Ambassador in Lebanon

https://www.armenianorthodoxchurch.org/

OCP News Service – 02/09/2023

Antelias – Lebanon: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, welcomed US Ambassador to Lebanon, Dorothy C. Shea, at the Catholicate on August 29, 2023, marking her second visit.

During their meeting, they discussed the Artsakh and Lebanon issues. Catholicos Aram I emphasized that the Artsakh crisis is not just humanitarian but a political problem linked to Armenians’ right to self-determination. He noted that Azerbaijan’s actions led to a humanitarian crisis, starving over 120,000 people, with the intention of suppressing this right.

Catholicos Aram I expressed appreciation for America’s support to Armenians and their expectations for more. He also mentioned the strong response from the Armenian Diaspora. Ambassador Shea, familiar with the historical and political aspects of the Artsakh issue, promised to convey these concerns to US authorities.

The discussion also touched upon the delayed Lebanese presidential elections, with both stressing the urgency of conducting them to address Lebanon’s socio-economic crisis.

Source:

OCP News Service