On June 7, 2018, meeting of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili and Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan took place at the Georgian Government building.
Welcoming the guests, State Minister Tsikhelashvili emphasized that she is glad to receive the Diocesan Primate and she is ready to listen to and discuss all the questions concerning the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.
State Minister highlighted the active participation of Armenian youth in the 1+4 educational program, as well as their involvement in various trainings and experience exchange programs. She expressed hope that these young people will benefit the local residents after returning to their regions.
During the meeting, discussion of three main issues raised by Primate of the Armenian Diocese took place. The first was trilateral verbal agreement reached in 2017 on the placement of a monument at the place where bones re-buried are, in the yard of the Gumburdo church.
His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan proposed not to delay signing of the written Memorandum in accordance with the agreement reached by the Patriarchate, Government and Diocese to facilitate the solution of further problems.
Discussion on the second issue was about the situation around the Tandoyants Surb Astvatsatsin (Tandoyants Holy Mother of God) church. The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia proposed the State Ministry for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia in the person of Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, to be involved in the problem and to foster the solving of the issue with solidarity and mutual understanding.
As the third issue, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia asked State Minister's interference in the issue of legally returning to the Armenian Diocese factual Armenian churches operating in Georgia; churches’ full package is represented to the Georgian Government.
At the end of meeting, Minister Tsikhelashvili promised to study these three issues and help to resolve them. State Minister highlighted the involvement of the Armenian community in the Georgian society and underlined that everything must be done so that people does not feel that their rights have been violated in Georgia.
The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia thanked the State Minister for listening to issues concerning the Armenian Diocese and expressed hope that through joint efforts of all parties, problems will be resolved.
At the meeting with the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia was accompanied by Michael Avagyan, Head of Legal Affairs and Cooperation Department of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia.