President Vahagn Khachaturyan received the delegation of the Assyrian Church of the East

President Vahagn Khachaturyan received the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East His Holiness Mar Awa III Royel. The leaders of the Assyrian Church of the East Dioceses of Syria, Iran, Armenia and Georgia, as well as the Adviser to the RA Prime Minister Arsen Mikhaylov, were also present at the meeting.

Welcoming the guests, President Vahagn Khachaturyan particularly noted:

“I am glad to meet you. The Assyrians actively participated in the process of establishing our newly independent state, helped us through all the hardships facing the Republic of Armenia, and I am sure that our friendly, fraternal relations will continue in the future.”

The Catholicos-Patriarch His Holiness Mar Awa III Royel thanked the President for the reception and noted that this visit will serve for the friendship of Armenian and Assyrian peoples and will be an achievement not only for the Assyrian community, but also for Armenians. The Patriarch emphasized that they are aware of the situation in Armenia and in the region and they pray for the Armenian people to receive a fair and dignified peace.

During the meeting, at the request of the guests, President Vahagn Khachaturyan presented the existing opportunities and impediments for establishing sustainable and lasting peace in the region and emphasized that regardless of the arisen problems, Armenia is determined in its position to achieve peace.

The Catholicos-Patriarch highlighted that he personally and the whole Assyrian community pray for peace, as they believe that Armenia is the safe motherland of the Assyrians. In Armenia, they have the chance to maintain their national identity, their language and culture, and they are ready to protect it, as during the 44-day war, where the Assyrian community also suffered casualties.

At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to continue the cooperation as much as possible.