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PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
March 12, 2007
His Holiness Karekin II Meets with President Abdul Kalam of India
On March 4, the final day of his pontifical visit to India, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met with His
Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India, in
the presidential palace in New Delhi.
President Kalam welcomed His Holiness to the palace and spoke of the long
history of friendship and cooperation between the Indian and Armenian
peoples.  The president specifically mentioned the Armenian merchants who
brought their contribution to the economic and societal development of
important trade cities like Calcutta, Madras and Bombay from the 17th
through the 19th centuries.
The day of the meeting between the Catholicos and the President was also a
holiday in India called `Holi', the festival of colors.  The Catholicos of
All Armenians congratulated the President on the holiday and extended to the
people of India his best wishes on this festive day.
His Holiness Karekin II also expressed his appreciation to President Kalam
for the careful attention and kind attitude that religious and national
minorities have always enjoyed in India, and specifically thanked the Indian
authorities for the freedoms and opportunities given to the Armenians to
organize and create their national and spiritual lives for centuries.  His
Holiness mentioned that he was greatly impressed by his visits to the major
Indian cities of New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras) and Mumbai
(Bombay), where he was able to visit at least one Armenian holy shrine or
church in each city, preserved to the present day.  His Holiness further
stated his happiness and pride at seeing the well-kept and maintained
conditions of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta,
the Armenian churches and complexes, as well as the Armenian cemeteries
located throughout India.
The Pontiff of All Armenians also stressed the importance of continuing the
cultural exchange of young students between Armenia and India, specifically
in the universities of the two countries.  More than 800 Indian students
currently study in Yerevan, most at Yerevan State Medical University, and in
exchange, a number of Armenian students are pursuing their higher educations
in major universities in different cities of India. 
President Kalam stated his pleasure with the developing ties between Armenia
and India, specifically during the last 15 years of independence.  His
Holiness thanked the Indian state and people for all of the assistance
provided during that time, first in the form of humanitarian aid in the
years immediately following the earthquake of 1988, and later through the
present day, in the form of economic development assistance in the spheres
of agriculture and information technologies.
His Holiness was accompanied during the meeting by His Excellency Ambassador
Ashot Kocharian, Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian.  Also
present during the meeting was Her Excellency Reena Pandey, Ambassador of
India to Armenia.  At the conclusion of the meeting, President Abdul Kalam
guided the Pontiff of All Armenians on a tour of his private garden in the
presidential palace compound.
Having concluded his first pontifical visit to India, the Catholicos of All
Armenians and his delegation returned to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on the following day, Monday, March 5.
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
March 12, 2007
His Holiness Karekin II Meets with President Abdul Kalam of India
On March 4, the final day of his pontifical visit to India, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met with His
Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India, in
the presidential palace in New Delhi.
President Kalam welcomed His Holiness to the palace and spoke of the long
history of friendship and cooperation between the Indian and Armenian
peoples.  The president specifically mentioned the Armenian merchants who
brought their contribution to the economic and societal development of
important trade cities like Calcutta, Madras and Bombay from the 17th
through the 19th centuries.
The day of the meeting between the Catholicos and the President was also a
holiday in India called `Holi', the festival of colors.  The Catholicos of
All Armenians congratulated the President on the holiday and extended to the
people of India his best wishes on this festive day.
His Holiness Karekin II also expressed his appreciation to President Kalam
for the careful attention and kind attitude that religious and national
minorities have always enjoyed in India, and specifically thanked the Indian
authorities for the freedoms and opportunities given to the Armenians to
organize and create their national and spiritual lives for centuries.  His
Holiness mentioned that he was greatly impressed by his visits to the major
Indian cities of New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras) and Mumbai
(Bombay), where he was able to visit at least one Armenian holy shrine or
church in each city, preserved to the present day.  His Holiness further
stated his happiness and pride at seeing the well-kept and maintained
conditions of the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy in Calcutta,
the Armenian churches and complexes, as well as the Armenian cemeteries
located throughout India.
The Pontiff of All Armenians also stressed the importance of continuing the
cultural exchange of young students between Armenia and India, specifically
in the universities of the two countries.  More than 800 Indian students
currently study in Yerevan, most at Yerevan State Medical University, and in
exchange, a number of Armenian students are pursuing their higher educations
in major universities in different cities of India. 
President Kalam stated his pleasure with the developing ties between Armenia
and India, specifically during the last 15 years of independence.  His
Holiness thanked the Indian state and people for all of the assistance
provided during that time, first in the form of humanitarian aid in the
years immediately following the earthquake of 1988, and later through the
present day, in the form of economic development assistance in the spheres
of agriculture and information technologies.
His Holiness was accompanied during the meeting by His Excellency Ambassador
Ashot Kocharian, Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian and Rev. Fr. Hovnan Hakobian.  Also
present during the meeting was Her Excellency Reena Pandey, Ambassador of
India to Armenia.  At the conclusion of the meeting, President Abdul Kalam
guided the Pontiff of All Armenians on a tour of his private garden in the
presidential palace compound.
Having concluded his first pontifical visit to India, the Catholicos of All
Armenians and his delegation returned to Armenia and the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin on the following day, Monday, March 5.