Catholicos of All Armenians Receives Georgian Prime Minister

On 17 January 2013, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received the Georgian Prime Minister, Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili; in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  He was accompanied by his delegation and the Republic of Armenia Minister of Culture, Mrs. Hasmik Poghossian.

During the meeting, His Holiness spoke with strong conviction on the current state of relations between the two nations, and assured the Prime Minister that his visit to Armenia would serve as a new stimulus for the continued expansion of inter-country collaboration.

The Catholicos of All Armenians touched on the issues of properly maintaining and restoring the Armenian historical sanctuaries in Georgia as well as returning a number of Armenian Churches to the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, which are critical to serving the needs of the Georgian Armenian community. The Pontiff of All Armenians expressed his hope that Georgia would commence all necessary measures to resolve these issues in an expedient and proper manner.

On behalf of the Armenian community in Georgia, the Pontiff of All Armenians made an appeal to Prime Minister Ivanishvili to allow for the teaching of the course “Armenian History” in Armenian schools in Georgia. His Holiness also solicited for the release of Vahagn Chakhalyan, one of the leaders of the Armenian community in the Javakheti region of Georgia, who has been remanded in Georgia.

Prime Minister Ivanishvili, expressed his happiness at the opportunity to visit the Mother See, reflected on the centuries old friendship between the Armenians and Georgians, emphasizing his deep reverence towards the Armenian people. The Prime Minister touched on issues raised by His Holiness, stating that he would personally undertake the task of restoring the Armenian Churches and take all necessary measures to see that they are properly maintained. In answer to the requests of His Holiness, Prime Minister Ivanishvili directed members of his delegation to take up the task of including the subject of “Armenian History” into the curriculum of Armenian schools, and responded that the case of Vahagn Chakhalyan, was still being reviewed.

Present for the meeting were His Grace Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the Publishing Department and Chairman of the Monastic Council of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin; His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia; His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Director of the Inter-Church Relations Department; and His Grace Bishop Babken Salbieyan; Vicar General of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.

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