Remarks by H.E. Mher Margaryan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN, at the 11th Annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the UN Community Hosted by Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch for the Eastern United States

13 նոյեմբերի, 2018

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers, Dear guests,

It is an honor to take part in the Annual United Nations Prayer Service hosted by the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch for the Eastern United States and co-sponsored by the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops. This is an important occasion for our communities to come together in the spirit of conviviality to remember all those experiencing adversities across the Middle East. I thank you for inviting me to share this evening with you.

This year’s theme of recognizing the continuing humanitarian crisis in the Middle East is a timely one and is one close to our hearts as it has severely impacted the lives of many Armenian communities. Today, we remember the suffering and displacement of hundreds of thousands in the region, many of whom are Christians, as well as the destruction of numerous religious and cultural heritage sites.

As the first people to adopt Christianity as a state religion, the Christian heritage and values have long been ingrained in our Armenian identity. We cherish our centuries-old religious and cultural heritage. The exceptional Exhibition “on Armenian Art, Religion and Trade in the Middle Ages” currently ongoing in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is a unique demonstration of our medieval artistic and cultural tradition based on the identification with Christianity.

Throughout the history, as our people have spread across the world, we have cultivated deeply rooted traditions of “living together” and respect towards other cultures and religions. Considering that Armenian communities currently live in nearly one hundred countries across the world, we understand, firsthand the value of tolerance and the dangers stemming from discrimination and hate speech, and. With many communities suffering in the Middle East today, we stand together in support of international efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and convey our firm opposition against the violation of minority communities’ rights around the world.

There are shocking statistics of the decrease of the Christian population over the twentieth century in the Middle East, which declined from 20% to less than 5%. These declines have been detrimental to Syria’s once-thriving Armenian community.

Armenia has continuously expressed its deep concern regarding threats against minority communities in the Middle East who continue to suffer on unimaginable levels from violence, discrimination, displacement and lack of access to shelter and basic needs. We have emphasized the need to achieve lasting peace and security in the region through concerted efforts of the international community.

We stand firmly against the practices that impede religious freedom and we actively contribute to international efforts aimed at preventing identity-based discrimination and violence. Last November, Armenia hosted a conference entitled “Preventing and Countering Hate Crimes against Christians and Members of other Religious Groups” together with the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, to reinforce the joint commitments to combat racism, discrimination and intolerance.
Another recent initiative in this regard was the Ministerial meeting to Advance Religious Freedom, hosted by the United States in Washington DC in July this year, where Armenia participated at high level. It focused on challenges to religious freedom, identifying concrete means to address persecution of and discrimination against religious groups, and promoting greater respect for religious freedom for all. These types of international platforms are also essential contributions to upholding values around religious liberty, particularly during a time when people continue to experience extreme suffering in the Middle East.

Dear friends,
Since the eruption of the conflict in Syria, an upward of 22,000 refugees have relocated to Armenia, making our country the third largest recipient of Syrian refugees in Europe on per capita basis. We appreciate the work of numerous religious, humanitarian and relief organizations in their efforts to provide the displaced people with necessities and resources for rebuilding their lives. In line with these efforts, the Government of Armenia continues to pursue its firm commitment to alleviating the suffering of refugees and creating decent conditions for their reintegration.

The integration of Syrian and Iraqi refugees into Armenian society has been a priority of the Armenian government, and major steps have been taken towards easing the process of granting legal status and documentation to refugees and to facilitate opportunities for meaningful engagement in society. Measures have been taken on behalf of the government, the civil society and Diaspora organizations to provide financial and social support to refugees from the Middle East.

Additionally, through partnerships with international organizations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Armenia has implemented vocational education and training, as well as job placement projects in order to increase their employment and business opportunities. These services that promote social and economic cohesion as well as provide with the opportunities for a dignified future have been valuable efforts aimed towards improving the lives of displaced people.

Dear friends,
As a nation who has historically been persecuted on the basis of faith and ethnicity, we feel obliged to uphold the protection of religious freedoms and prevent persecution of vulnerable populations across the world. In upholding our moral responsibility, we are determined to take decisive efforts to prevent mass atrocities, particularly during a time in which we are witnessing genocidal intent against certain communities in Middle East. We remain committed to the agenda of genocide prevention, which is exemplified by a resolution initiated by Armenia and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, proclaiming 9 December as an International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. The designation of the 9 December as an International Day serves also as a stark reminder to the international community of the collective responsibility to protect populations from violence, to reject denialism and defamation and prevent any violations of human rights while safeguarding fundamental freedoms such as freedom of religion or belief.
In closing, I would like to reiterate my appreciation to the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops for convening this service, and to reaffirm Armenia’s continued commitment to raising awareness of the ongoing situation of Christian and other vulnerable communities in the Middle East while urging the United Nations and the international community to take decisive and sustainable efforts in alleviating their sufferings.

I thank you.

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