Catholicos awaits PM’s return for “elucidations” regarding church comments

Catholicos Garegin II of the Armenian Apostolic Church told reporters today that after PM Nikol Pashinyan’s return to Armenia from the United States he will “most probably have elucidations” regarding the latter’s statement in Los Angeles.

“In this regard the church has already voiced an opinion. Most probably upon the prime minister’s return to Armenia we will have elucidations regarding this issue. We are periodically meeting with the prime minister and discussing problems and issues of concern for the church and the fatherland,” the Catholicos said.

Speaking about the political life he said there are issues facing the country which concern the people, and “these concerns, naturally, find their manifestation in our national life and the Diaspora’s life”.

“We are hopeful that all problems will be resolved, we pray for our country to live in peace and be stable,” the Catholicos added.

At a news conference in Los Angeles on September 23rd, a reporter from the Hay Kyank (Armenian Life) news website asked the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan to comment on his earlier statement that the government should not interfere in church affairs.

Pashinyan had responded by saying: “I’d like to understand, do we want the government to enter church affairs? If it turns out that the Armenian people want the government to enter church affairs, the government will discuss this demand of the Armenian people, will understand what practical possibilities exist”.

He continued: “When we are saying that we aren’t entering the internal life, some clergy conclude that we are not like the former government, that we are a weak government”. He added that those who are thinking about conspiring and sabotaging the government will receive “a very heavy counterblow and will be brought down to their knees both literally and figuratively”.

“I’d like to warn anyone against mistaking our smiles and respect as weakness. Those who perceive our methods as weakness perceive the people as a weak, opinionless entity,” the PM said.