PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
April 23, 2005
His Holiness Karekin II Receives Lech Walesa
On April 21, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, received Lech Walesa, former president of Poland and Nobel
Laureate for Peace. President Walesa was accompanied by Tomasz Knothe,
Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Armenia.
His Holiness welcomed the former president to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and spoke of the long history of friendship between the Armenian
and Polish peoples, referring specifically to the establishment of Armenian
communities in Poland nearly 800 years ago. “Our two peoples share more
than a common history of persecution and tribulations. More importantly,
what links us together is the strong faith in Christ which distinguishes
both of our nations, and the immense treasury of culture, art, literature
and unique identity which that steadfast faith has inherited to us in the
present day,” noted the Catholicos.
Through the former president, the Pontiff of All Armenians also thanked the
Polish government, authorities and people, for their recent act of
solidarity on the eve of commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Last week, the Polish Sejm (Parliament) officially recognized and
condemned the Genocide of the Armenians during the First World War. His
Holiness stated, “Today, your presence here confirms once again the fact
that genocide is not limited to geography, ethnicity or time. It is the
worst of crimes which, when attempted or perpetrated, affects all of
mankind, wherever they live and whenever it occurs. As a result, every case
of genocide must always be condemned to prevent further acts of mass terror
and violence.”
Mr. Walesa, a famous Soviet dissident until his election as president of
Poland, thanked His Holiness for the reception and discussed the reasons for
his trip to Armenia, including his participation in the international
conference regarding the Armenian Genocide, which convened in Yerevan this
week. The former Polish president also spoke of his deep respect for the
Armenian Church and his strong belief that faith is the most important
element in creating desired changes in society and humanity.
The Catholicos of All Armenians and the former Polish president ended their
meeting with happy recollections of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, each
sharing a few memories of the former pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
His Holiness Karekin II specifically reflected on the historic visit of the
Roman Pontiff to Armenia in 2001, and the joint communique they issued in
the Vatican, condemning the Armenian Genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress