IRNA - Armenian Archbishop of Tehran and Northern Iran Sebouh Sarkissian said that the Armenian community has been living peacefully together in Iran for centuries and it has always been a safe place for the Armenians.


In a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Kazem Sajjadi in Yerevan on Monday, Archbishop Sarkissian added, �Armenia is our historic land and Iran is our birthplace of the birthplace of our fathers. We have been living peacefully with each other for many years.�

Armenians love Iran and follow up its news carefully irrespective of which place in the world they are living because Iran has always been serving them as a safe haven in hard times.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Sajjadi said that since he started his mission in Yerevan, he has focused on promoting bilateral ties between Iran and Armenia to help Iranians and Armenians benefit from achievements of growing ties between the two capitals.

Iranians have always been advocating peace and friendship, he said, noting that Iran has long been harbor for different tribes as well as followers of various religions. It is also home to followers of different faiths including Christians, Muslims and Jews who are performing their traditions freely.

Armenian-Iranians are ethnic Armenian citizens of Iran. They are mostly concentrated in Tabriz, Tehran and Isfahan's Jolfa (Nor Jugha) quarter, and an estimated 70,000 to 200,000 remain in the country.

Today the Armenians are Iran's largest Christian religious minority.