On August 28, Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National Assembly, received His Holiness Garegin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

His Holiness who was the first time in the Parliament, after Mr. Tigran Torosyan’s election as President of the Parliament, reiterated his congratulations and best wishes to the President of the National Assembly, wishing his activity to be fruitful and have progress in the national life, also noting the long term productive cooperation of Mr. Tigran Torosyan as Vice President of the National Assembly, which was expressed by the activity for the sake of the Armenian Apostolic Church. During the meeting the issues of the draft law on regulating the relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and State following the
constitutional reform were also discussed. His Holiness is hopeful that the elaboration and passing of the draft law will enable to regulate the church-state relations and the issues concerning the procedure of the state events with the participation of high ranking clergymen, spiritual education, the use of the symbols of the Armenian Apostolic Church and, in general, the activities of the church.

Emphasizing the important mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church in spiritual life and its role as inseparable and important part of the Armenian identity, Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National Assembly highlighted the passing of the law, the decent solution of the issues of moral education and recovery of public life in the post-soviet reforms. It was noted that in our country, providing the freedom of conscience and faith, the freedom of religious organization's activity within the framework of the law, however we should distinguish the Armenian Apostolic Church as an important component of the system of national value. The draft should define the mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the sense of its role, status, rights in spiritual and cultural life. An agreement was reached related to the elaboration of the draft law by joint discussions and forthcoming meetings.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National Assembly and His Holiness Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians also discussed other issues of mutual importance.