July 11, 2011 - 20:35 AMT
Tbilisi considers Georgian Orthodox Church may get certain status in Armenia

The first Vice-Speaker of the Georgia’s Parliament Mikhail Machavariani asserted that Georgian Orthodox Church, if desires, may register in Armenia as a Church.

“Armenian Church is ready to grant Georgian a status in Armenia similar to Armenian Church to be granted in Georgia,” Machavariani said.

“According to information on hand, as soon as the Armenian delegation, namely His Holiness Karekin II and his escort, returned from Georgia, they invited representatives of our Embassy and confirmed readiness to start working on the issue legally and solve the problem. This is not a problem according to the Armenian legislation, and Georgian Church may register there in the status of Church,” Pirveli Agency quoted Machavariani as saying.

As regards issues connected with property, the Vice-Speaker underlined creation of joint commission involving representatives of the Churches and historians, who will work on this issue and make respective decision.

“The state will not interfere with this issue,” said Machavariani adding that the decision passed last week in the Parliament has nothing to do with issues connected with property delivery.