Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited today the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and met with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Welcoming Nikol Pashinyan, the Catholicos of All Armenians said: “We are pleased to welcome you to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and bring our blessing and good wishes for the success of your patriotic activities.

We know, of course, that your agenda is too busy, but this meeting is needed to discuss with you questions related to our church and our national life in order to get solutions to those issues of concern to the church. Indeed, we know that there are many challenges facing the country as we are going to hold preterm National Assembly elections. We wish to have such peaceful elections as might help boost our people’s reputation and international standing, and contribute to the country’s overall progress. Again, our best wishes to you; you are welcome to Holy Etchmiadzin.”

Thanking His Holiness for kind remarks and good wishes, Nikol Pashinyan noted that this was not the first meeting, he had repeatedly met with the Catholicos of All Armenians and had discussions, including in April-May.

“As Prime Minister, I highly appreciate the contacts with the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In general, the values advocated by the Armenian Apostolic Church are of paramount importance to all of us, our people and our country in terms of preserving the Armenian identity. This perception has always led us and continues to lead us.

You said that we need to hold peaceful elections. I wonder that the ideas of election and peace may come at odds in Armenia, but I want to assure you that it cannot be otherwise, and the elections will definitely be peaceful in our country. As a matter of fact, it is time for us not to oppose any longer the concepts of election and peace. Our nation is going to make a decision, and whatever the people’s choice, we will accept it as a political reality. This is the key meaning of those changes that have taken place in Armenia,” the Acting Prime Minister underscored.

Nikol Pashinyan assured that it is a pleasure for him to be in the Mother See, and that he is going to visit Holy Etchmiadzin many times ahead. “The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is of particular importance to our people, to every follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church, including my family and me. This is also the best place to think about the past and the future.”

“By visiting Holy Etchmiadzin, you raise your prayers to God and get our blessing for successful implementation of your mission,” His Holiness Karekin II pointed out. With reference to the snap parliamentary elections, scheduled for December 9, he expressed confidence that they would be held in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere as it was the case with the latest Yerevan City Council and local self-government elections.

“Our wish is to pray for the elections to be held in the same manner in order to strengthen national unity and address the emerging challenges through our people’s joint efforts,” the Catholicos of All Armenians emphasized.