On December 13, the Catholicos Patrirach of Cilicia Krikor Bedros XX received the ROA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut. The Minister was accompanied by ROA’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Lebanon Samuel Mkrtchyan and members of the embassy staff. Participating in the meeting were holy fathers of all ranks, member of Lebanese Parliament Serge Toursakissian, ex-minister Maitre Jacques Tchoukhadarian and boards members of various Armenian Catholic associations.

During the more than an hour long meeting, the warm and open conversation touched upon questions of interest to all Armenians. Armenia’s Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan addressed the reforms initiated in many areas in Armenia but particularly in the economic field. She stressed the importance of developing Armenia’s economy in parallel with strengthening its statehood; in this respect, she underlined the importance of investments.

The Minister of Diaspora highly praised the patriotic activities of the Armenian Catholic Church and especially the role it undertook in welcoming and establishing the Syrian-Armenians in Armenia. Hranush Hakobyan provided information and comments to his Beatitude on questions he raised about the education, Christian education, the negotiations over Artsakh, Diaspora Ministry’s activities and the effects of visit by the Holy Father Pope Francis to Armenia.

Minister Hranush Hakobyan bid farewell to his Beatitude wishing for more frequent similar informative meetings.