ARMENIA AND ARMENIAN CHURCH FOR FURTHER RAPPROCHEMENT WITH VATICAN

Yerevan and supreme spiritual leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church stand for the further rapprochement of Armenia, Armenian Church and the Armenian nation with the Rome Catholic Church. The Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II made such statement, while meeting today in Zvartnots Airport the Roman Catholic pontiff. Pope John Paul II.CNA correspondent reports that the Kazakh plane with Roman pontiff on the board, landed in Yerevan at 13:00 (Yerevan time). The Armenian President and Catholicos Garegin II stressed the "special role" of this visit for Armenia, which these days celebrates 1700 anniversary of the country's adoption of the Christian faith as its state religion. The Armenian President and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II expressed hope that the ties between Armenia and Vatican will be more strengthened in the future. Pope John Paul II read a brief blessing in Armenian. After the ceremony in Airport the head of Armenian Apostolic and Roman Catholic Churches moved to St Echmiadzin.