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01
07, 2010
President Serzh Sargsyan received the participants of the 17th Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly
Today, President Serzh Sargsyan received the participants of the 17th Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly.
Welcoming the delegates, the President of Armenia noted the symbolism of the fact that the Assembly had decided to convene its annual meeting in Armenia – one of the oldest cradles of Christian faith and civilization. President Sargsyan said that Armenia attaches utmost importance to the preservation and dissemination of Christian values, as well as to spiritual education. According to Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia, which was the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion, through the centuries, even in the absence of statehood, has been adamant regarding the preservation of these values and proud of them also thanks to the Armenian Church.
Underscoring the importance of the formula of the conference – Preservation of the Christian spiritual and cultural monuments of the region and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict – President Sargsyan said, “I believe this formula is very important from the viewpoint of conflict resolution in this complex and volatile region, establishment of the atmosphere of peace, mutual trust, and stability.”
The President of Armenia hailed the objectives of the Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly such as triumph over extreme nationalism and religious intolerance, protection of human rights and of the ethnic and religious minorities.
He welcomed the decision of the Assembly to visit the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and see first hand challenges facing its Christian people, who have been living and working on the land of their forefathers for centuries, their determination and will to build their own peaceful future.
Participants to the 17th annual Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly noted that the very fact that the annual meeting was invited in the ancient Armenian land of first Christians was emblematic and gratifying. The President of the Assembly, member of the Russian Duma Sergei Popov spoke with satisfaction about the accomplishments of the Assembly. He assessed the presented reports as interesting and meaningful and welcomed the ensuing discussions. He also expressed confidence that these discussions would be continued in the Parliaments of the member states, while the content of the adopted document would make the leaders of the states and relevant international organizations to mull it over.
At the meeting, the interlocutors spoke also about the NK peace process and the current stage of the Armenian-Turkish process of normalization, current issues, the recent statement of the Presidents of the OSCE Minks Group Co-Chair countries, as well as the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants expressed their gratitude to President Sargsyan for the offer to conduct the meeting in Armenia, stressing that the choice was stipulated by the general situation in the region, concerns and ongoing processes. “We stand by you, justice is on your side, and it will ultimately prevail,” said the Secretary General of the IOA, member of the Greek Parliament Chitiris Tilemakhos.
Welcoming the delegates, the President of Armenia noted the symbolism of the fact that the Assembly had decided to convene its annual meeting in Armenia – one of the oldest cradles of Christian faith and civilization. President Sargsyan said that Armenia attaches utmost importance to the preservation and dissemination of Christian values, as well as to spiritual education. According to Serzh Sargsyan, Armenia, which was the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion, through the centuries, even in the absence of statehood, has been adamant regarding the preservation of these values and proud of them also thanks to the Armenian Church.
Underscoring the importance of the formula of the conference – Preservation of the Christian spiritual and cultural monuments of the region and peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict – President Sargsyan said, “I believe this formula is very important from the viewpoint of conflict resolution in this complex and volatile region, establishment of the atmosphere of peace, mutual trust, and stability.”
The President of Armenia hailed the objectives of the Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly such as triumph over extreme nationalism and religious intolerance, protection of human rights and of the ethnic and religious minorities.
He welcomed the decision of the Assembly to visit the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and see first hand challenges facing its Christian people, who have been living and working on the land of their forefathers for centuries, their determination and will to build their own peaceful future.
Participants to the 17th annual Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly noted that the very fact that the annual meeting was invited in the ancient Armenian land of first Christians was emblematic and gratifying. The President of the Assembly, member of the Russian Duma Sergei Popov spoke with satisfaction about the accomplishments of the Assembly. He assessed the presented reports as interesting and meaningful and welcomed the ensuing discussions. He also expressed confidence that these discussions would be continued in the Parliaments of the member states, while the content of the adopted document would make the leaders of the states and relevant international organizations to mull it over.
At the meeting, the interlocutors spoke also about the NK peace process and the current stage of the Armenian-Turkish process of normalization, current issues, the recent statement of the Presidents of the OSCE Minks Group Co-Chair countries, as well as the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants expressed their gratitude to President Sargsyan for the offer to conduct the meeting in Armenia, stressing that the choice was stipulated by the general situation in the region, concerns and ongoing processes. “We stand by you, justice is on your side, and it will ultimately prevail,” said the Secretary General of the IOA, member of the Greek Parliament Chitiris Tilemakhos.