PUTIN HIGHLY ASSESSES CHURCH’S ROLE IN ESTABLISHING PEACE, COOPERATION BETWEEN PEOPLES
RIA Novosti, Russia
March 25 2005
ECHMIADZIN (Armenia), March 25 (RIA Novosti) – The state promises
to render assistance to the church in its efforts to establish peace
and cooperation between nations.
“The church introduces a substantial contribution to the cause of
establishing peace and inter-ethnic cooperation in the Caucasus. We not
only welcome it but will assist this as much as we can,” the Russian
president said Friday in Echmiadzin at a meeting with Garegin II,
the Catholicos of all Armenians.
The head of Russia said that the Armenian Apostolic church was
one of the most ancient churches, and the relations between the
peoples of Russia and Armenia had this spiritual basis as well. “It’s
pleasant to note that the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian
Apostolic Church are connected by very warm relations,” said the
Russian president. “This is a substantial element of development of
interstate ties.”
Putin said he would be glad to see the Catholicos of all Armenians
in Moscow. “I do not doubt that with your spiritual support, all
issues will be resolved even faster than when people vested with
administrative power deal with it,” said the Russian president.
In his turn, Garegin II noted that the arrival of Putin in Echmiadzin
was a new illustration of the age-long friendship between the Russian
and Armenian peoples. “The churches of two states stood at the origin
of our friendship, and we are glad that these traditions of age-long
relations continue in all spheres, filling the peoples with hope and
belief in the future,” said the Catholicos.
He thanked Vladimir Putin for paying a great attention to church
activity.