Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I, ARF will not participate in the World Armenian Forum to be held in Yerevan, they refused for different reasons, commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan said on the air of Armenian Public TV.

"A month ago I met with both Catholicoses. They did not want to participate for different reasons, such is the reality. Karekin II said that the reason was not a favorable attitude of the government. He also said that he could not participate in a state-sponsored event. The conversation took place several months ago. Aram I said that the atmosphere around is volatile and toxic, and it is wrong to gather at this time. I disagree, our state is going through a difficult time today, this is a time when we should be gathering, meeting, discussing the imperatives our people care about. I couldn't convince them both. With the ARF, the situation is politicized; they have to answer why they are not participating. We invited individuals and the ARF," Sinanyan said.

Asked whether it is possible that instead of unity we get division, Sinanyan said that maybe we do not get complete unity, but it is unity nonetheless.