YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The constructively developing diplomatic ties between the Republic of Armenia and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta have years of history, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan told a press conference after the meeting with Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta H.M.E.H. Fra Matthew Festing.

“However at this moment a historic bridge is being formed between the world’s first Christian nation and the ancient Christian Military Order. It is also symbolic that the existing close political and cultural ties during the Crusades between the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and the Order of Malta are getting new breath today. With your visit, Your Eminence, we believe in attaching new quality to the bilateral cooperation”, President Sargsyan said.

The President said issues relating to both bilateral cooperation and regional, international situations were discussed in a frank atmosphere with Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta H.M.E.H. Fra Matthew Festing.

“Of course, I expressed our deep appreciation to the Military Order of Malta for the humanitarian aid, delivered during the 1988 devastating earthquake and until now, which is significant, and of course, didn’t stay unnoticed by us”, President Sargsyan said.

Issues related to the possible expansion of bilateral cooperation in the fields of medical services, population safety during emergency situations were discussed.

“We both stated that we have the most important thing for further development of cooperation – a value basis, which allows a same approach to solving issues. It’s no secret, that the historic path of the Armenian people is full of struggles, for preservation of Christian identity and values, for Christian culture, for humanism”, President Sargsyan said.

The President added that during the meeting they also discussed the strong ties between Armenia and the Holy See, the 2015 April 2 Holy Mass by Pope Francis in memory of the Armenian Genocide victims in St. Peter’s Basilica and the Pope’s visit to Armenia.

President Sargsyan thanked H.M.E.H. Fra Matthew Festing for his participation in the Mass.