Nalbandian: This diversity of the Middle East - deeply rooted in the  traditions of coexistence and tolerance - was once a remarkable asset  not just in civilizational terms but also security wise.

ArmInfo. Armenian MFA charge d'affair on May 24 participated international forum Victims of Ethnic and Religious Violence in the Middle East conference, where 60 high ranking delegations of states and international organizations participated. 

According to MFA Armenia press service, the forum was organized by  Spain and Jordan. 

Nalbandian opened plenary session of the forum, who stressed during  his speech that Armenia continues to implement its active  contribution in international community efforts in this direction.  For centuries the Armenian nation has constituted a part of the  multicultural and multi-religious mosaic of the region.  This  diversity of the Middle East - deeply rooted in the traditions of  coexistence and tolerance - was once a remarkable asset not just in  civilizational terms but also security wise. The mass exodus from  this region of the most vulnerable groups, representing different  ethnic and religious communities is largely an outcome of inhumane  ideology and atrocities perpetrated by terrorist organizations. Thus,  safeguarding the remnants of diversity and tolerance in the Middle  East is important for restoration of regional safety and security. It  may contribute to the prevention of the spillover effect that  threatens the neighboring regions and far beyond. The terrorist acts  in Europe are illustrative in this regard. The phenomenon of the  terrorists returning from the Middle East battlefields threatens not  just the security of the countries of their origin, but may become a  destabilizing factor in other regions, stimulating crisis situations  and regional conflicts. The Daesh style beheadings and other  despicable atrocities are already not limited just to the Middle  East.  It should be made clear once and again that religion has  nothing to do with the violence. What we are countering here are  crimes against civilization perpetrated by Daesh and other terrorist  groups.  Barbarism has declared a war against the civilized world.  Indeed, the threat that the ethnic and religious communities of the  Middle East face, is not merely a physical, but also a civilizational  challenge. To what extent the international community is able to  unite and jointly fight against this evil would demonstrate to what  extent it is ready to protect its own civilizational values.

"It is not a coincidence that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has a  leading role in countering ethnic and religious violence in the  Middle East. During the Armenian Genocide the Emir of Hashemite  dynasty of Mecca Hussein Bin Ali issued a decree calling to protect  Armenians, as they protect themselves and their children. The values  of compassion and care are not outdated. They are well grounded in  the century long traditions of the Middle East and should serve as an  example for the current protection efforts. The Syrian crisis has  deepened divisions in the Middle East and beyond. We may hold  different views on its underlying causes, dynamic or the ways of the  settlement but we should stand on the same footage on the  humanitarian issues. Any efforts to protect and rehabilitate  victimized communities should be supported irrespective of the  political and religious differences. Next year we will mark the 70th  anniversary of the adoption of the Genocide Convention. The actions  of terrorists against ethnic and religious groups indicate the  relevance of the Convention which clearly establishes the punishable  actions, including the complicity. Any support to the terrorist  entities involved in identity based crimes should be viewed under  this Convention," Nalbandian said. In this context he reminded that  more than 22 thousand refugees from Syria, continue to direct humane  help to brother Syrian nation. 

At the same time, Armenian Minister stressed that  throughout the  recent Constitutional and Legislative Reforms Armenia enabled its  four main minorities to ensure an assigned seat in the Parliament.  Three out of these groups - namely Yazidis, Assyrians and Kurds have  been subjected to the identity based violence in Syria and Iraq. We  have a long shared history with these people. Today Armenia  contributes to the international efforts for the protection of the  Armenian and other vulnerable communities in the Middle East.