Representatives of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul did not attend the meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to Bagrat Estukyan, editor of the newspaper “Agos,” as reported by Sputnik Armenia.

“The Patriarchate was closed so that if Pashinyan wanted to visit, they wouldn’t be obliged to receive him. Patriarch Sahak Mashalian was also absent from the meeting, as he has been in the United States for five or six days,” Estukyan said.

He noted that around 50 people attended the meeting, all of whom were among the invited guests. Attendees included leaders of community institutions, the head of the Protestant Armenian community, and the leader of the Armenian Catholic community. According to Estukyan, some individuals declined Pashinyan’s invitation and did not attend the gathering.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, leading a delegation, traveled to Ankara on June 20 to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He has already held a meeting with members of the Armenian community.