Armenian Patriarch of Turkey His Beatitude Sahak II. Mashalyan went to Ankara for a courtesy visit to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on January 14, 2020, Tuesday morning. Patriarch II. Sahak was accompanied by the President of the Spiritual Assembly, Archpriest Rev. Tatul Anuşyan and the Chairman of S. Pırgiç Armenian Foundation, Bedros Şirinoğlu.
His Beatitude the Patriarch was accepted by President Erdogan at 15.00 at the Presidential Palace in Beştepe. During the meeting which lasted about an hour, President Erdoğan congratulated Sahak Maşalyan and presented his wishes for success. The President expressed his satisfaction for the election of the spiritual leader of the Armenian Community of Turkey. He stated that the Armenian Community is an important value for the country and as President, he said that he is trying to show interest and relevance to this historical value. Erdoğan wished success to the Patriarch on the occasion on his election which opened a new page for the Armenian Community.
Patrik II. Sahak Maşalyan thanked on his behalf and on the behalf of the Armenian Community for the warm welcoming of the President. He also thanked for the support of the state during the election process. Following the death of the late Patriarch Mesrob II, the Armenian community had started the election process under the auspices of the state, and it was successfully completed. As a result of all this, the Armenian Community could elect its spiritual leader. At the end of the meeting, commemorative gifts were presented mutually.
After the meeting at the Presidential Palace Patriarch II. Sahak Maşalyan visited Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, who also served as the Governor of Istanbul in the past.
During the visit, the Minister Çavuşoğlu and the Governor Şahin informed their satisfaction on the occasion of the Patriarchal election. They both wished success to the Patriarch in his new post.
Patriarch Sahak II and his delegation returned to Istanbul the same night by air.
