Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan, within the framework of his visit to Istanbul for the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, visited the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and met with Patriarch Sahag II.

“The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople addressed recent confrontations over the past year between some clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and representatives of the Government of Armenia, expressing his concerns in that regard,” the Patriarchate said in a readout.

Archbishop Sahag II Mashalian expressed hope that “reconciliation and harmony will soon be reestablished between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Government of Armenia.”

The Patriarch also emphasized the “importance of ensuring the smooth development of relations between Türkiye and Armenia, the establishment and strengthening of diplomatic ties in the future, which would inspire peaceful coexistence and joint development among the peoples of the region.”

He also wished success to Speaker Simonyan in his “patriotic” activities.

According to the readout, Speaker Simonyan also expressed a desire to meet with representatives of the Turkish-Armenian press in Istanbul, and the meeting took place in the Patriarchate’s hall.