Wednesday, November 22 2017 21:07

ArmInfo. Within the OSCE, Armenia has developed a wide range of commitments, including combating racism, xenophobia, discrimination, anti-Semitism and  intolerance, to respond appropriately to hate crimes, including  against Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religious minorities. 

This was announced by the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian  on November 22 at the opening of the OSCE Forum "Counteraction and  Prevention of Hate Crimes against Christians and Other Religious  Groups: Prospects from the OSCE and Beyond".

At the same time, he added that the countries members of the  Organization share the view that the fulfillment of these commitments  is of decisive importance in the preservation of peace, stability and  security. "The time has come to ensure that the mechanisms and  experience of the OSCE effectively serve the protection of  representatives of the Christian and other religions in the OSCE  countries, I would like to cite one example." According to the  document approved by the OSCE member states in 1994 in Budapest,  countries should pay due attention to religious monuments, if the  communities that created them no longer use them or do not exist in  the region.In 1990-2000, numerous Armenian churches, monasteries,  cemeteries were destroyed or appropriated in the places from which  expelled the indigenous Armenian population Such a situation is  unacceptable, "-. said Nalbandian.  According to him, the latest  reports on the state of religious freedom in the world show a rather  sad picture.  He added that according to one of them, about 80% of  humanity lives in conditions of high or very high religious  restrictions.

Nalbandian stated that there is a certain tendency in the OSCE area  among the countries known for violating their commitments in terms of  hiding human rights violations, fundamental freedoms, and  impersonating tolerance.  At the same time, he expressed regret that  the fact that religion continues to be used to achieve assistance in  conflicts not related to religion. "Some of the organizations based  on religious tolerance promote these allegations, in fact  exacerbating an already complicated conflict situation.We are  convinced that the OSCE, and especially those participating countries  that are members of organizations operating on a religious basis,  must resolutely reject such a statement a dangerous style of  activity.In fact, most of the destructive conflicts occur between  representatives of different religions, and one religion, and this is  evident in the example of the modern Middle East, "- TMemo Armenian  FM.

According to him, nowhere in the world are so widespread crimes based  on national and religious hatred both in the Middle East, where the  three largest religions in the world have taken root. He recalled  that for many centuries the Armenian people were part of the mosaic  of the region's multiculturalism. According to him, the number of  Christians in the Middle East declined sharply and only 5% remained  at the beginning of the 20th century from 20%. Nalbandian noted that  in reality the number of Christians in the last decade has decreased  by 80%. The Armenian minister said that the number of the Armenian  community in Syria has seriously decreased. "Yezids have seriously  suffered from terrorist groups in Iraq, barbarous actions against the  Yezidi people are genocidal," the Armenian minister said. Nalbandian  also believes that it is necessary again to specify that religion has  nothing to do with terrorists who are speculating this for their own  purposes.

"The preservation of the last fragments of multiculturalism and  tolerance in the Middle East is important in terms of restoring  regional security, which can prevent the spread of the danger of  destabilization in both adjacent and farther regions." We are  convinced that the OSCE and the partners of the Organization have  common interests in this matter. Returning to their countries from  the Middle East, terrorists threaten not only the security of their  native land, but they can become a factor of destabilization in other  regions, " - said Nalbandian.

Recent studies show that the IG series has now been replenished by  citizens of the OSCE countries bordering on Armenia. "This worries  us, and I think that our concern is being shared by other members of  the OSCE," the Armenian minister summed up.