An official Palestinian delegation Monday met the Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians, Catholicos Karekin II, at his Echmiadzin headquarters in the Armenian city of Vagharshapat.
Chairman of the Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, Minister Ramzi Khoury, who led the delegation, conveyed to Patriarch Karekin II the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas, and his invitation to the Catholicos to visit Palestine, as reported by Keghart, a news website devoted to Armenian Affairs.
The meeting touched on the importance of preserving the Christian presence in the Middle East, the protection of the Armenian Christian sanctuaries and historical-cultural heritage, with special reference to the issue of leasing the “Cows’ Garden” estate by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
He stressed the importance of complying with international law and the UN resolutions, including in the occupied city of Jerusalem, and the preservation of the historical and legal status quo as well as the religious mosaic in the city.
The delegation held similar meetings with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Sarkissian, at the Presidential Palace, as well as with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
Minister Khoury conveyed the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas to President Sarkissian and the friendly Armenian people, handing him the President’s message, and touching on the importance of developing Palestinian-Armenian relations, and ways to strengthen them in all fields.
He also thanked Sarkissian for Armenia’s supportive stances for the Palestinian people’s issues in all forums.
The delegation comprised Ambassador Manuel Hassassian, Committee member Ambassador Issa Kassisieh, and Ambassador Omar Awad Allah.
The Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem signed a 10-year contract with the the Israeli occupation authorities, namely the Jerusalem Municipality, allowing the “Goveroun Bardez” area located in the historical Armenian Quarter to be used as a parking lot for Jews visiting the Western Wall in the Old City in March 2020. This parking lot was officially opened in May of 2021.
Then, in July of 2021, the patriarchate signed a new contract with Dany Rubinstein, an Australian businessman, leasing the “Goveroun Bardez”, which is the entire southwestern section of the Armenian Quarter, for 99 years. Rubinstein’s plan is to construct a hotel on that land and give a small percentage of the profit to the Church within five years’ of the hotel completion.
Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency