Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the Knight Grand Cross of Pope Pius IX, one of the Vatican’s highest awards. Press service of the head of the Armenian government.
The award was presented to the prime minister by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Jose Avelina Bettencourt, who completed his mission in Armenia, the press service reported. Pashinyan was awarded the medal “for his contributions to strengthening the ties between Armenia and the Vatican.”
The press service also noted that the prime minister thanked for the high assessment and underlined the interest of the republican government in the consistent development of relations with the Vatican. Pashinyan also wished Archbishop Bettencourt success in his future activities.
Before reportedMoscow evaluated Pashinyan’s speech at the European Parliament on October 17 as “absolutely irresponsible and provocative”.
In his speech, the Armenian prime minister condemned Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh for inaction, said that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was “not helpful at all” to Yerevan, and accused unnamed “security allies” of calling for a change in power in Armenia. He also mentioned concerns about the possibility of new territorial claims by Azerbaijan.
Previously Pashinyan accused In the surrender of Karabakh.