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A two-day international conference entitled “Syria Crisis: Challenges of Christian Communities” opened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on Wednesday. 

The conference, chaired by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, is attended by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, Secretary General of the World Council of Churches Olav Tveit as well as representatives of Christian churches from the Middle East, Syria, Russia, Europe and the U.S., the government press service reported.

Catholicos Karekin II made the opening remarks.

Speaking at the conference, Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan expressed the hope that the conference will contribute to the establishment of political and inter-religious dialogue in Syria.

The Prime Minister said that the Armenian nation experienced genocide in the early 20th century and was deprived of its historic homeland and on the eve of the Armenian Genocide Centenary the Armenian people again experienced that pain when Syria’s Armenian-populated town of Kessab was attacked by extremist militants crossing over from Turkey in the spring of the current year.

Mr Abrahamyan expressed the hope that the recent presidential elections in Syria will contribute to creation of a dialogue to solve the existing problems and revive the country.