Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his spouse Anna Hakobyan, who are in Georgia on an official visit, have been hosted by Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, His Holiness Ilia II.

The Catholicos of All Georgia welcomed the Prime Minister’s official visit to Georgia and expressed confidence that it would promote the further development and strengthening of ties between the two friendly nations.

“On behalf of the Georgian Orthodox Church, I warmly congratulate you on your election. The Georgian and Armenian peoples boast centuries-old brotherhood and friendship: when it was difficult for Armenia, it was also difficult for Georgia and vice versa. We live in difficult times, and under these conditions, our countries need to make joint efforts to cope with the emerging challenges. I am glad to see you in Georgia,” the Catholicos of All Georgia said.

Prime Minister Pashinyan thanked Ilya II for the reception and conveyed deep respect and warm greetings on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. The Head of Government congratulated Ilya II on the 40th anniversary of his tenure.

“I know that the Georgian nation is going to celebrate this jubilee. You enjoy high reputation not only in Georgia, but also in Armenia and in the world. I wish you every success during your years in tenure,” Nikol Pashinyan said. The head of the Armenian government noted that nowadays a key challenge is the preservation and development of identity and traditions.

“We attach great importance to relations with Georgia and our common values. I am confident that the political changes in Armenia and my official visit will upgrade the Armenian-Georgian cooperation to a new level in all spheres. We have had fruitful talks with the head of the Georgian government, discussed several issues in a friendly atmosphere,” Nikol Pashinian underscored.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the attention shown by Georgian authorities and the Georgian Church to the Armenian community. The interlocutors attached importance to the role of the Armenian Apostolic and Georgian Orthodox Churches in the life of the Armenian and Georgian peoples.

At the end of the meeting, the members of the Armenian delegation listened to a piece of spiritual music authored by Ilya II.