Armenian President due in Rome Oct. 5; Catholicos in Rome too

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and his wife Nouneh Sarkissian will pay a state visit to Italy at the invitation of President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday, October 5, the President's office reports. This is the first state visit of an Armenian President to Rome in the 30 years of the independence of the country. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II is currently visiting Italy too.

Sarkissian and Mattarella will meet at the Quirinal Palace in Rome and offer press statements afterwards. The two will open an exhibition of pieces by celebrated Armenian artists Ivan Aivazovsky, Gevorg Bashinjaghian, Martiros Saryan, Vardges Sureniants, Hakob Kojoyan at the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic.

The Armenian President will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Mario Draghi, President of the Italian Senate Maria Elisabetta Casellati, President of the Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico, Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi. The sides will weigh in on bilateral relations, the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, regional issues and developments, as well as other matters of mutual interest.

Sarkissian will also meet the members of the Armenian community at the Pontifical Armenian College and attend the re-opening of the Chair for Armenian Studies at the Sapienza University of Rome.

Karekin II will, in turn, participate in the international meeting "Peoples as Brothers, Future Earth. Religions and Cultures in Dialogue" promoted by the Community of Sant'Egidio. His Holiness will deliver remarks and serve an ecumenical prayer in the presence of the Pope.

The Armenian Catholicos will later meet Pope Francis, with his delegation set to include top clerics of the Armenian Church and Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan.