Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and met with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
Welcoming Nikol Pashinyan, the Catholicos said: “We are glad to welcome you again at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Taking this opportunity, we would like to offer you our congratulations on the successful holding of preterm elections which have been highly appreciated by observer missions, as well as on those impressive results recorded by the My Step alliance in the elections. Our people reaffirmed their confidence along with their hopes and expectations of progressive, safe and peaceful life.
We know that there are many problems, difficulties and challenges facing our country, which call for consolidation among our world-spread children, our social and political forces, mobilization of our national potential, as well as tolerance, forgiveness, and empowerment we need in order to give effect to our centuries-old dreams with joint efforts.
Our Church should endeavor to strengthen national unity. We must use every opportunity to record new achievements in public life. We wish you every success in your drive for Homeland’s progress and our long-cherished dreams.”
Thankful for His Holiness’s congratulations and kind remarks, Nikol Pashinyan noted that Armenia has entered an important stage.
“This new era is a good opportunity to reinterpret the history of our Third Republic as well as our nation’s millennial history. I hope that what is going on in Armenia is a proof that we have been able to learn a comprehensive and living lesson from the mistakes we have made throughout our history. All those misfortunes, failures and victories should serve the purpose of promoting the welfare and the rights of our people, our country, the Republic of Armenia, the Artsakh Republic and the nation, in general.
I find it important to underline that the ongoing transformations have a strong value base. What matters most is the respect for others rights and for one’s own rights as well, since I think that anyone must hold fast to his or her own rights, which in turn can lead to the respect for the rights of others.
Quite often during the Third Republic’s history democracy was confused with anarchy, democracy or politeness – with weakness. By the way, it is the case today, but we hope that these values will change in the first place. Mutual respect, respect for the right to freedom and the awareness of our collective agenda and interests are of paramount importance for the nation. This is a cycle where private interests should be thrown out of our perceptions and awareness. We, the Armenians, must advocate and strive for our national and public goals, and we are determined to do so.
Once again, I am happy to be here, because any visit to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is extremely important for me as an opportunity to think about the past and the future. Thank you for giving me that opportunity and I hope to have many such opportunities ahead.”
