ARMENIA NOT ANTI-SEMITIC COUNTRY, HEAD OF JEWISH COMMUNITY SAYS
19:12 * 05.06.14
Head of the Jewish community in Armenia Rima Varzhapetyan intends to
address an open letter to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
According to an ADL report, Armenia is the most anti-Semitic member
of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with 58% of the
population harboring anti-Semitic attitudes.
"The Jewish community, as a national minority, has never been
maltreated in Armenia. There is a synagogue here. And the issue of
Israel recognizing the Armenian Genocide is our only concern because
it is a cause of debates inside Armenia. It is commonly understood,
though, that Israel will not recognize the Armenian Genocide for
security reasons. But it is universally recognized at the level
of people's diplomacy, and it is people's wish that the problem be
resolved," Varzhapetyan said.
"We are indignant at the poll results. We do not know anything about
the respondents. The question may have been 'Do you love Jews?' or
'Why do not Jews recognize the Armenian Genocide?'"
Although the Jewish community in Armenia has officially registered
700-800 members, many more Jews are living in Armenia.
"They are mostly mixed marriages and do not consider it necessary
to register their national identity. But all of them take part in
different events. So we can speak of a Jewish community of several
thousand people in Armenia," Varzhapetyan said.
Jews have been living in Armenia for centuries, and although many of
them have emigrated to Israel, they regularly visit Armenia, and even
bring their children here.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/06/05/rima-varjapetyan/
19:12 * 05.06.14
Head of the Jewish community in Armenia Rima Varzhapetyan intends to
address an open letter to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
According to an ADL report, Armenia is the most anti-Semitic member
of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with 58% of the
population harboring anti-Semitic attitudes.
"The Jewish community, as a national minority, has never been
maltreated in Armenia. There is a synagogue here. And the issue of
Israel recognizing the Armenian Genocide is our only concern because
it is a cause of debates inside Armenia. It is commonly understood,
though, that Israel will not recognize the Armenian Genocide for
security reasons. But it is universally recognized at the level
of people's diplomacy, and it is people's wish that the problem be
resolved," Varzhapetyan said.
"We are indignant at the poll results. We do not know anything about
the respondents. The question may have been 'Do you love Jews?' or
'Why do not Jews recognize the Armenian Genocide?'"
Although the Jewish community in Armenia has officially registered
700-800 members, many more Jews are living in Armenia.
"They are mostly mixed marriages and do not consider it necessary
to register their national identity. But all of them take part in
different events. So we can speak of a Jewish community of several
thousand people in Armenia," Varzhapetyan said.
Jews have been living in Armenia for centuries, and although many of
them have emigrated to Israel, they regularly visit Armenia, and even
bring their children here.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/06/05/rima-varjapetyan/