SW News: Armenian Catholicos, His Holiness Karekin II, paid a visit to Pope Francis in the Vatican on Wednesday, October 6, to discuss the issue of the 44-day war between the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan last year.
During his meeting with Pope Francis, the Catholicos highlighted the plight of the Armenian prisoners of war who are presently being held in the custody of Azerbaijan. He turned to Pope Francis for help and guidance concerning the matter. They also discussed other issues such as the safety of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is also known as Artsakh, Azerbaijan’s continued intrusion in Armenia’s sovereign territory, and the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage in areas still under the control of Azerbaijan.
Following his visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican, His Holiness Karekin II and his delegation comprising Human Rights defender Arman Tatoyan visited Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
As the meeting continued, Tatoyan put forward evidence-based reports on the hardships of the Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan custody, including human rights violations. He emphasized the need for urgent action to be taken in bringing back home Armenian captives. He further stated that international rules are being completely ignored, and the prisoners are being held as military-political bargaining chips.
He also highlighted the issue of the cross-border shootings by Azerbaijani forces on the roads linking Armenian towns. The shooting has resulted in countless deaths and has affected the lives and well-being of the people.