ETCHMIADZIN, AUGUST 25, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met with the representatives of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) accompanied by the President of the Constitutional Court, Gagik Harutyunyan, at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on August 25.

Welcoming the visit of the Venice Commission to Mother See, the Catholicos of All Armenians referred in his speech to the important role of the Armenian Church in the lives of Armenians and the important mission of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in preservation of religious and national values.

As “Armenpress” was informed from the press service of the Mother See, His Holiness appreciated the Venice Commission for their support and consultation to the Republic of Armenia in elaborating laws. In this regard His Holiness emphasized with satisfaction that the visit of the representatives of the Commission to Armenia will give them a good opportunity to understand the mentality of the Armenian people, culture and the value system based on Christian principles.

Gagik Harutyunyan introduced the process of elaboration of the draft Constitutional reforms of the Republic of Armenia and the work done with the representatives of the Commission during the past days, particularly mentioning that the draft submitted to public debates creates firm constitutional preconditions for a legal and democratic state.

The sides also touched upon the issues of religious freedoms during the meeting and Church-state relations.