On December 7, during his working visit to Milan, acting Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See.

The interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the high level of relations between Armenia and the Vatican and emphasized their mutual readiness to take practical measures aimed at further strengthening the political dialogue and enhancing the bilateral agenda. The sides stressed the particular importance of the visits of Popes John Paul II and Francis I to Armenia for the promotion of bilateral relations.

Referring to Armenia’s initiatives aimed at promoting the agenda to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity, acting Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stressed that the international community must take practical measures aimed at implementing the motto of “never again.”

The interlocutors exchanged views on the challenges facing ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East and the efforts of the international community aimed at protecting those minorities.