Mills: In general, US State Department`s assessment of freedom of  religion in Armenia in 2017 is positive

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.