Armenian Apostolic Holy Church The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On October 2, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; received Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Lebanon Mr. Hector Hajjar.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Lebanon Vardine Ohanyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lebanon to Armenia Mrs. Maya Dagher were also present at the meeting.

The Catholicos of All Armenians, welcoming the Minister's visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, expressed his appreciation for the cooperation with Armenia in the social sphere.

At the meeting, His Holiness referred to the genocidal policy adopted by the Azerbaijani authorities, as a result of which Artsakh was depopulated. His Holiness Karekin II, emphasized with deep concern that the forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians found themselves in a difficult social situation. In this created situation, the Armenian Patriarch particularly emphasized the priorities of the displaced Armenians' living, educational problems, and job security. In this regard, His Holiness noted that the Armenian Church, according to everything, is trying to bring its usefulness to the Artsakh Armenians who are in the midst of losses, pain and hardships, and is showing the necessary care in meeting their needs and living within the limits of the possibility.

During the conversation, the Catholicos of All Armenians, speaking about the facts of the destruction of the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage by Azerbaijan, emphasized the importance of consistent efforts in their preservation.

The Armenian Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the authorities and people of Lebanon for sheltering the Armenians who survived the genocide in their country and for always supporting Armenia.

In his turn, Minister Hector Hajjar emphasized that Lebanon has also gone through similar challenges and imagines the problems facing Armenia.

Mr. Hajjar informed the Catholicos of All Armenians that the purpose of his visit is to get acquainted with the social problems of forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh and to support their overcoming as much as possible.