Catholicos Karekin II Appeals for International Support Amidst Ongoing Security Concerns

armenianchurch.org

armenianchurch.org

OCP News Service – 15/02/2024

Yerevan-Armenia: H.H Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met with a delegation led by Sir John Whittingdale, a member of the UK Parliament’s House of Commons, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on February 15,2024 . The meeting focused on the ongoing security challenges faced by Armenia, particularly the plight of forcibly displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and the preservation of the region’s cultural heritage.

During the meeting, the Catholicos highlighted the critical security concerns facing Armenia, including continued Azerbaijani incursions into Armenian territory, border provocations leading to casualties, and the ongoing struggle for the rights of displaced Armenians from Artsakh. He emphasized the need for the international community to take concrete steps to curb Azerbaijan’s “belligerent and expansionist ambitions” and ensure a lasting peace in the region.

His Holiness expressed gratitude to Sir John Whittingdale and the delegation for their visit to Jermuk and their attention to the plight of displaced Armenians. He underscored the importance of continued international support in protecting the rights and cultural heritage of these individuals.

Sir John Whittingdale shared his delegation’s firsthand observations of the challenges faced by displaced Armenians and expressed their solidarity with the Armenian people. The Catholicos then engaged in an open dialogue, answering questions related to the preservation of Artsakh’s cultural heritage, interfaith relations with other churches, and the multifaceted activities of the Armenian Church.

Source:
OCP News Services and armenianchurch.org