(Horizon Media / WASHINGTON) — U.S. President Donald Trump met Armenian religious leaders and Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States Narek Mkrtchyan at the White House on Sept. 16, in a gathering organized by the Armenian Embassy in cooperation with the White House Faith Office.

The meeting brought together leaders representing the Armenian Apostolic Church’s Eastern and Western Dioceses and Prelacies, as well as the Armenian Catholic and Armenian Evangelical communities in North America.

According to the Armenian Embassy, discussions focused on Armenia-U.S. relations, Christian and civilizational ties between the two peoples, religious freedom and efforts toward peace and stability. The religious leaders offered a collective prayer for Armenia and the United States and highlighted Trump’s contribution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

Paula White-Cain, senior adviser to the White House Faith Office and Trump’s longtime spiritual adviser, and Faith Office Director Jennifer S. Korn also participated.

Reacting to the meeting, Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian said such encounters carry particular significance for Armenian faithful at a time when many remain concerned about the Pashinyan government’s actions toward the Armenian Apostolic Church. However, he stressed that meetings with religious leaders should not replace direct presidential-level engagement with Armenian American civic organizations on major foreign policy concerns.

Hamparian pointed in particular to the return of displaced Artsakh Armenians, the release of Armenian detainees held by Azerbaijan, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenian territory and the protection of Armenian Christian heritage sites. He also criticized the Trump administration over its waiver of Section 907 restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan and the absence of sanctions against Azerbaijani officials. The ANCA has separately pressed Congress and the administration to condition U.S. assistance to Baku on the release of Armenian detainees, protection of cultural heritage and other measures.

Hamparian further criticized Trump’s retreat from U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide and raised the ANCA’s recent objections over U.S. diplomat Amy Carlon’s participation in celebrations in Shushi, which disregarded the forced displacement of Artsakh’s Armenian population.