YEREVAN. – It has become clear that Armenia’s Diaspora Ministry is either unaware that the Vatican is an independent republic, or it does not recognize the Vatican’s sovereignty, Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun daily writes.  

“Specifically, the official statement, on the meeting between the Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan and Pope Benedict XVI, reads as follows: ‘His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI received, at the Vatican, Armenia’s Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan, who is in Italy, on February 7-12, on a working visit.’ It is known that the Vatican is geographically situated inside Italy, but it is also known that the Vatican is an independent state, with which Armenia has diplomatic relations. But the Ministry’s official statement leaves the impression that, at present, the Vatican is a part of Italy,” Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun daily writes.