Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On October 3, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received the delegation led by the first president of the Italian Court of Cassation, Pietro Curzio, accompanied by the president of the RA Court of Cassation, Lilit Tadevosyan.

RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy Mrs. Tsovinar Hambardzumyan was also present at the meeting.

In his welcoming remarks, His Holiness noted that the Armenian people have the warmest feelings towards friendly Italy, with which relations are anchored on the basis of common historical, cultural and Christian values.

Appreciating the cooperation between the Courts of Cassation of the two countries, the Catholicos of All Armenians noted that the centuries-old Armenian-Italian friendship is also expressed at the church level, as evidenced by the fraternal relations between the Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic Churches.

Referring to the 44-day war in Artsakh and the military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against Armenia on September 13, His Holiness noted that in order to prevent aggression and encroachment by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia, the international community must strongly condemn it. His Holiness also noted the importance of the active support of the international community in the process of the early return of the Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.

In his turn, Mr. Pietro Curzio emphasized that Armenia and Italy, being Christian countries, have the same value system and on that occasion expressed his confidence that the warm Armenian-Italian relations will develop and be strengthened by the exchange of experience and cooperation between the Courts of Cassation of the two countries.

At the meeting, a reference was also made to the facts of the destruction and usurpation of the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan.