ArmInfo.US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills believes that, in general, the US State Department's assessment of the freedom of religion in Armenia in 2017 is positive.
For example, on May 31 in Yerevan after the ceremony of taking the oath of volunteers of the Peace Corps, in an interview with journalists, answering a question about the negative assessment in the report in connection with teaching the subject of AAC history in schools, in particular, said: "If you study the report, then in the assessment of the situation with the freedom of religion in Armenia in 2017 is positive. "
At the same time, the diplomat believes that in any society and country, including the US, there are issues in this area that are of concern. "We are concerned that children who profess a different faith when teaching the subject of the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church in schools in Armenia did not feel hurt, we voiced this issue at a meeting with Armenian officials and during meetings with representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church," the ambassador concluded. .
To note, on May 29, the US State Department released a report on the international situation with the freedom of religion for 2017. According to the report, the Armenian Constitution states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. "The Constitution recognizes the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) as a national church and a keeper of national identity, but also establishes the separation of" religious organizations "and the state," the US Department of State said in a report.
At the same time, the document emphasizes that religious minorities in Armenia are concerned about the draft law on freedom of religion, which they believe can have a negative impact on religious minorities. "Human rights defenders continued to express concern over the fact that with the permission of the government in schools they continue to teach the subject of the history of religion, where the AAC is often equated with national identity. Moreover, according to religious minorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government statements equating national identity with AAC, continued to feed both state and social discrimination against religious organizations, with the exception of the AAC, "the report says.
The document also highlights the decrease in the number of cases of violence against Jehovah's Witnesses. At the same time, it is stressed that the US ambassador and other embassy employees continued their propaganda of religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue during meetings with government officials.