RA NA speaker visits Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople during  his visit to Istanbul

ArmInfo.   On April 18, Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan visited the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople (AAC) during his visit to  Istanbul.

According to the press service of the Armenian parliament, Simonyan  discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest during a meeting  with the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Sahak II  Mashalyan.

The Patriarchate, in turn, reported that during the meeting, Sahak II  expressed concern over the tensions between the Armenian Church and  the government of Armenia. He expressed hope for a speedy resolution  of the disagreements between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and  the government of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the restoration  of harmony and solidarity.

The spiritual leader also emphasized the importance of the healthy  development of relations between Turkey and Armenia. He noted that  the establishment and strengthening of diplomatic relations in the  future will be an encouraging step for the sake of peaceful  coexistence and the common development of the peoples of the region.

It should be noted that since May of last year, the Armenian  authorities have been actively pursuing an anti- Church policy and  are seeking the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin  II, who was elected to this position posthumously. This campaign has  targeted both clergy and citizens who support the Church.  Moreover,  the overthrow of the Catholicos and the subordination of the Church  is part of the election campaign of Nikol Pashinyan's ruling Civil  Contract party.