Serzh Sargsyan: church-state relations adjustment not an easy task
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan attended the Episcopalian Meeting of Armenian Apostolic Church on November 2.
"Adjustment of church-state relations is not an easy task. The state should not interfere with church affairs and vice versa. It's not easy to employ this formula in everyday life. It's hard for us, Armenians, to draw the border between spiritual and political cultures. But we are determined to continue cooperation, which already yields results," President Sargsyan said.
He also pointed out to the church's role in upbringing of the younger generation.
Asked to comment on concerns that Turkey links normalization of relations with Armenia to resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the President said, "These two processes are not interrelated. We need decisions which could secure lasting peace and development of the region."
"Adjustment of church-state relations is not an easy task. The state should not interfere with church affairs and vice versa. It's not easy to employ this formula in everyday life. It's hard for us, Armenians, to draw the border between spiritual and political cultures. But we are determined to continue cooperation, which already yields results," President Sargsyan said.
He also pointed out to the church's role in upbringing of the younger generation.
Asked to comment on concerns that Turkey links normalization of relations with Armenia to resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the President said, "These two processes are not interrelated. We need decisions which could secure lasting peace and development of the region."
