Catholicos Garegin the Second, the Head of Armenian Apostolic Church, thanked Russia's Sacred Patriarch Cyril and the Russia Orthodox Church (ROC) for the mediation over the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and restoration of peace in the region, ITAR-TASS reported.
"We'd like to thank you and the ROC for your mediating efforts aimed at the resolution of the Karabakh conflict and restoration since the very first day of the confrontation," Catholicos reported at a trilateral meeting with the Head of the ROC, and Allahshukur Pasahzadeh, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Department.
Garegin the Second said he is "full of hope that owing to the overall efforts, the Nagorno Karabakh problem will be resolved and good relations between our nations and states, namely Armenia and Azerbaijan will be restored."
The Catholicos stressed that the duty of spiritual leaders is to make considerable efforts to contribute to the strengthening of peace and stability in the region and cooperation amongst nations.
"Owing to the peacemaking mediation efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states (Russia, France, and the US) and personal efforts of the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to hold meetings and talks to solve the problem and ensure peaceful coexistence of our nations," Garegin the Second noted.
"Our previous meetings, joint statements and calls by spiritual leaders also yielded certain results. Thanks to their efforts, no religious character was attached to the conflict and exchange of prisoners of war went on," he stated.
Garegin the Second believes that for the nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan "living abreast and trying to create wealthy, happy life, there is no alternative but peace.
"Our call, as a call of religious leaders for the world should be heard permanently by our nations and our governments to make peace that will always be with us, according to God's will," he said.