His Holiness Aram I met with the Right Honourable Mr. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, on 03 June 2015, in Ottawa-Canada.

On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Pontiff expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for Canada’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He also shared with the Prime Minister his concerns and perspectives regarding the actual situation in the Middle East in general and the Syrian crisis in particular.

At the end of the meeting, His Holiness Aram I decorated the Prime Minister Harper with the Catholicosate’s insignia Prince of Cilicia.
After his private meeting with the Prime Minister, His Holiness was joined by the members of his delegation Bishop Meghrig Parikian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, Krikor Der Ghazarian, Chairperson of the Executive Council of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, member of the Executive Council of the Catholicosate, Raffi Donabedian, Chairperson of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, Hagop Der Khatchadourian, President of the Armenian National Committee International Council and V. Rev. Father Housig Mardirossian, Ecumenical Relations Officer of the Catholicosate.