On 15 February 2013, Ashod Kocharian, the Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon met with His Holiness Aram I. He informed the Catholicos of the decision to hold a special requiem service on 3 March 2013, to honor the memory of the victims of the Sumkait massacres in 1988 by the Ariris. In the end of the meeting, His Holiness Aram I reiterated the importance of strengthening Armenia-Diaspora relations and hoped that the Presidential elections in Armenia scheduled for 18 February 2013, will be held according to democratic principles.