Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church Kurt Koch.

“As the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as state religion, Armenia attaches great importance to relations with Vatican. Rich cultural and religious heritage, common value system oblige us to maintain high-level ties and deepen them,” President Sargsyan said.

He further hailed the relations between the Holy See and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, considering the religious values and the ideology linking the two churches.

Cardinal Koch, in turn, stressed promotion of peace, development of cooperation between all nations and religions as the mission of the Catholic Church.

President Sargsyan further underscored Vatican’s role in consolidation of the Christian world, along with promotion of peace, human rights and tolerance.