Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Garegin II, today, in Etchmiadzin, hosted a delegation led by Artsakh National Assembly Speaker Artur Tovmasyan.

Catholicos Garegin II, according to a statement released by the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, noted that Armenian Apostolic Church leaders have always paid attention to the rights and problems of Artsakh Armenians and pointed to the steps taken by the late Catholicos Vazgen I in this regard.

Catholicos Garegin II said that Catholicos Vazgen I secretly visited Artsakh during the Soviet era to preserve the Christian faith and Armenian national identity there.

Catholicos Garegin II told the visiting Artsakh delegation members that from the very first day of the Karabakh conflict, the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, with its dioceses and communities around the world, has supported the Armenians of Artsakh by all possible means.

Expressing his private concern over the recent belligerent statements made by the Azerbaijani and Turkish leaders, Catholicos Garegin II stressed that there is no alternative to a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

 During the meeting, Catholicos Garegin II clarified the views of the Armenian Apostolic Church on several issues of public concern.