ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WAS THE LAST FOREIGN LEADER TO HAVE MET JOHN PAUL II
MEDIAMAX
2005-04-04 11:39:00
YEREVAN, 04.04.05. Armenian President Robert Kocharian became the
last foreign leader to have met the head of Roman Catholic Church
John Paul II.
Mediamax notes that John Paul II received Robert Kocharian in Vatican
on January 28.
Two days later, Pope felt the first symptoms of flu and on February 2,
his condition worsened – because of the spasms it was difficult for
Pope to breathe and he was urgently taken to Gemelli hospital.
At the meeting with Robert Kocharian on January 28, John Paul II
recalled with warmth his pilgrimage to Armenia in September 2001 on
the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of proclamation of Christianity
as state religion in Armenia.
“I would like to take the opportunity to express my hearty greetings to
all the people in Armenia as well as millions of Armenians dispersed
all over the world but having not lost links with its culture and
Christian traditions,” John Paul II said then.
“With all my heart I want to express my best wishes as regards the
establishment of real stable peace in Your, Mr. President, smaller
homeland – in Nagorno Karabakh. This may lead to final refusal of
violence and to the establishment of a dialogue between the interested
parties based on tolerance assisted by active international mediation,”
head of Roman Catholic Church noted on January 28.