site.btaDeputy Prime Minister Zafirov Expresses Support for Canonical Armenian Church in Bulgaria

Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov expressed his full support for the work of the canonical Armenian Church and its spiritual representatives at a meeting with Bishop Datev Hagopian, Locum Tenens in the Armenian Diocese of Bulgaria, the Government Information Service said Monday.

The meeting was attended by the director of the Religious Denominations Directorate at the Council of Ministers, Nikola Petkov, and the prominent public figure and representative of the Armenian community in Bulgaria, Roupen Krikorian.

The meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Zafirov was at the request of the bishop, who presented the problems with the functioning of the Armenian Church in Bulgaria related to its Diocesan Council. 

Bishop Hagopian noted that in recent years there has been an issue with the normal functioning of the Armenian Church in Bulgaria and explained that he hopes for support from the Bulgarian state in resolving this specific case.

"I was very saddened to learn about this problem. You are absolutely right. Our relations over the years have been excellent. The Armenian diaspora in Bulgaria is a model of integration and friendship between our nations. Therefore, I want to assure you that you will have my full support in resolving this and any similar problems. We will provide full cooperation by informing all institutions about the problem," Zafirov said, adding that for many years, he has been committed to the Armenian cause and the development of relations between the two brotherly countries.

Zafirov has been awarded with a Medal of Gratitude by the President of Armenia for his contributions to strengthening relations between the two countries in his role as head of the Bulgaria-Armenia parliamentary friendship group, which he has headed for five terms.