Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of Pope Pius IX, one of the Vatican’s most prestigious honors. The presentation was carried out by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Jose Avelina Bettencourt, who recently completed his mission in Armenia, according to the prime minister’s press service.
The medal was conferred in recognition of Pashinyan’s work to strengthen the ties between Armenia and the Holy See. The press service noted that the prime minister expressed gratitude for the high appraisal and reaffirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to developing relations with the Vatican. Pashinyan also wished Archbishop Bettencourt success in his future endeavors.
The report also referenced Moscow’s reaction to Pashinyan’s remarks at the European Parliament on October 17, describing the speech as “absolutely irresponsible and provocative.”
During the speech, the Armenian leader criticized Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh for inaction, questioned the usefulness of the Collective Security Treaty Organization to Armenia, and accused unnamed “security partners” of advocating a change in Armenia’s leadership. He also voiced concerns about potential new territorial claims by Azerbaijan.
Earlier, Pashinyan had described the situation surrounding Karabakh as a surrender by its leadership, noting ongoing tensions surrounding the region.