His Holiness Karekin II Receives Prime Minister of Georgia
16.03.2005
On March 12, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli, and his delegation in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The newly appointed Prime Minister was accompanied by Vardan Khatchatrian, Minister of Finance and Economy for the Republic of Armenia and Mr. Gegham Gharibjanian, Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Welcoming the first visit of the Georgian Prime Minister to Holy Etchmiadzin, the Pontiff of All Armenians congratulated him on his recent appointment and expressed his confidence that it would benefit Armenian-Georgian relations. His Holiness further stated his contentment in the development of ties on different levels between the Armenian and Georgian peoples.
His Holiness stressed that mutual efforts and dialogue are necessary to find just solutions for difficulties and problems that exist in the region, noting his desire and hope that a lasting and secure peace be established for the benefit of all nations, leading all peoples of the South Caucuses to happy and prosperous lives.
During the meeting between the Catholicos and the Prime Minister, the issues surrounding the current problems facing the Armenian churches located in the Armenian Diocese of Georgia were discussed.
The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked His Holiness for the reception and conveyed the warm fraternal greetings of His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.
The Supreme Pontiff reciprocated the greetings of Patriarch Ilia, and expressed his conviction that the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church would provide his caring attention to the Armenian citizens of Georgia as well, hearing their concerns and assisting them in solving their difficulties.
Also present for the meeting were: Revaz Gachechilladze, newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Georgia to Armenia; His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian, Chancellor of the Mother See; and His Grace Bishop Sion Adamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir.
