Artsakh issue is not closed for Cilician Catholicosate - Aram I

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.