ArmInfo.The issue of Artsakh is not closed to the Cilician Catholicosate. Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I stated in an interview with CILICIA TV, answering a question about Artsakh.
The source recalls that in recent months the Catholicos has made pastoral visits to a number of dioceses of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia. Specifically, Greece, Cyprus, Ghana, eastern North America, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
To clarify whether the issue of Artsakh was raised at these meetings, Aram I in particular said: "In all our meetings with high-ranking officials of foreign states, we naturally discussed the issue of Artsakh. First we wanted to know their opinion, and then clarified our fears and expectations. In this regard, it is necessary to make a clear distinction between the meetings that we had before and after the occupation of Artsakh. Regarding our meetings before the fall of Artsakh statehood (with the Prime Minister of Ghana, the President of Cyprus, the Prime Minister of Greece and various ambassadors in the capital), we emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of the people of Artsakh in accordance with international law and even pointed out Artsakh's right to self-determination and territorial the integrity of Azerbaijan, which as principles are part of international law, up to the possibilities of coexistence." According to the Catholicos, his interlocutors, emphasizing the importance of preserving the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, emphasized the need to preserve the rights of the people of Artsakh, despite the fact that Azerbaijan is consistently working to strengthen its views in the international community.
"After the occupation of Artsakh, at our meetings, including in inter-church structures, we emphasized the following points: the right of return of the people of Artsakh, restoration of the rights of Artsakh Armenians with international guarantees, safe preservation of religious and cultural structures, release of prisoners and arrested government officials, humanitarian appeal with Artsakh internally displaced persons who settled in Armenia.
There was a common understanding on these issues among officials of foreign countries. The issue of Artsakh is not closed to the Cilician Catholicosate. Artsakh occupies an important place on the agenda of our national demands," His Holiness noted.