Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Armenia stands ready to cooperate with all  interested parties to recover ancestral presence of Christians in the  Middle East

ArmInfo. Armenia stands ready to cooperate with all interested parties to recover ancestral presence of Christians in the Middle East. This was stated by Armenian Foreign  Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, speaking at a ministerial conference on  religious freedom in Washington.

 As the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informs, the Minister' s speech reads as follows: ''As a strong supporter of the universality of human rights,  Armenia promotes adherence to international human rights instruments  and firm commitments to ensuring freedom of religion within the  framework of the overall democratization of the society.

The non-violent Velvet revolution that took place in Armenia in  April-May last year once again demonstrated the powers of tolerance,  non-discrimination and respect for human rights and their value in  our society. 

Religion represents an institution of identity and the protection of  the identity. Our history is a telling story about that. Tolerance  and respect for all religions is based on our national experience,  Christian heritage and long history of living together and  sharing  with other faiths. 

Freedom of religion and belief is an absolute human right which  cannot be abolished or curtailed under any circumstances including in  conflict situations.

Protecting religious minorities played a crucial role in establishing  modern systems of human rights which clearly established that grave  and massive violations of human rights cannot be considered as a  domestic affair but should be of legitimate concern of all members of  the international community.

Protection of religious groups has been well-defined in the crime  suppression international instruments such as the Convention on the  Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Preventing mass atrocities against members of religious groups is an  absolute priority for Armenia. We know what it means to be a  persecuted religious group  within the oppressive framework. It is a  duty for us to pledge support to all those who are persecuted,  including on the basis of their religion and belief today. 

Armenia became a safe haven for a number of vulnerable religious  minorities particularly Yazidis and Assyrians. Today Yazidis are the  strongest minority group in Armenia, and we are very proud that the  biggest temple of this ancient people very soon will open in their  Armenian homeland. Together with the most ancient Christian churches  of the world and magnificent Blue Mosque of Yerevan it will symbolize  beauty of faith and tolerance.  

Unfortunately, we have been witnessing recurrence of mass atrocities  including acts of genocide against Yazidis and Christians in the  Middle East. These persecutions occur in the name of religion, as  religion is often misused and abused by those who perpetrate violence  or justify it. 

Attempts to equalize victims and perpetrators by referring to their  religious differences is misleading for a simple reason: perpetrators  unlike the victims do not represent any religion and attempts to  justify grave crimes including genocide by summoning religious  solidarity or hiding behind religion is an insult to any religion. 

The rehabilitation of persecuted communities, the return and  restitution of the places of worship, educational and other property  are essential components of protection of the freedom of religion.

Today we have received more than 20 thousand refugees from the Middle  East and provided assistance to them on the ground.

Armenia stands ready to cooperate with all interested parties to  recover ancestral presence of Christians in the Middle East by  rebuilding their lives, communities and churches. The Armenian people  historically have been significant contributors to diversity, harmony  and prosperity of the countries and societies of the Middle East.   This conference provides an excellent platform to initiate  partnerships to this end. 

We welcome this conference and we would welcome this conference to  become an annual event.  We are convinced that it would amplify  opportunities to build up on international consensus and networks for  advocacy on religious freedom.  The freedom of religion is essential  in unleashing potential of any religion as a force striving for  peace, harmony, sense of belonging and optimism for the future of  humanity.