Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On February 7, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received the delegation led by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Gordan Grlić-Radman, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

During the meeting, His Holiness presented to the guests the special role of the Armenian Church in the life of the Armenian people, noting that even today the Armenian Church continues its important mission.

The Armenian Patriarch expressed hope that the delegation's visit to Armenia will serve as an impetus for the strengthening of friendly relations between the two countries and the strengthening of effective cooperation.

Referring to the difficult situation in the region and the blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, His Holiness expressed his concern about the new harassment against the right of the people of Artsakh to live peacefully and freely and the resulting humanitarian disaster. The Patriarch of Armenia noted the importance of the consistent efforts of the international community, including Croatia, in the direction of reopening the Lachin Corridor, the preservation of the Armenian spiritual and historical-cultural heritage in the territory under the control of Azerbaijan, as well as preventing Azerbaijan's ambitions towards the borders of Armenia.

During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians also addressed the issue of the return of Armenian captives, expecting that the Croatian authorities will take active steps in this direction.

In turn, Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman, thanking for the warm welcome, emphasized that the delegation's visit to Armenia also aims, apparently, to familiarize with the situation in the region and to contribute to the peaceful settlement of the problem.