Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On September 13, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Mr. Romano Prodi, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy.

Attending the meeting were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Italy Mrs. Tsovinar Hambardzumyan; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Italy to the Republic of Italy Mr. Alfonso Di Rizzo and Rector of the YSU Mr. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan.

The Catholicos of All Armenians, welcoming the famous politician's visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, congratulated him on the occasion of being awarded the title of honorary doctorate by the YSU.

At the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians noted that the Armenian-Italian friendship has a centuries-old history and emphasized that the Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic Churches played an important role in deepening fraternal relations, whose warm cooperation ongoes even today.

The Catholicos of All Armenians also referred to the difficult situation created in the region, the continuous encroachments of Azerbaijan on the borders of Armenia, as well as the humanitarian disaster created in Artsakh as a result of the blockade. The Armenian Patriarch, appreciating the efforts made by the international community in establishing peace and stability in the region, noted the importance of implementing the most effective measures to prevent Azerbaijan's policy of depopulating Artsakh and repressing the Armenians of Artsakh.

In his remarks, the former Prime Minister of Italy, Mr. Romano Prodi, referred to the general regional developments and geopolitical changes, particularly noting the greater involvement of international structures in the peaceful settlement of the conflict.