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CHRISTIANS IN MIDDLE EAST ARE ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION, ARMENIAN FM SAYS
March 3, 2015 11:14
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has
stated that the international community should take immediate steps
to protect Christians in Middle East who can be considered as one
of the most vulnerable groups in the region which are on the brink
of extinction.
Edward Nalbandian said this addressing a speech at UN-initiated
discussion on "Support to Christians' Rights in Middle East" in Geneva.
"Unfortunately, Christianity in Middle East is seriously threatened
now. Beheading of 21 Egyptian Copts and brutal attacks against
Assyrians in Syria were only the recent episodes. Suffice it to say
that the number of Christians within the overall population decreased
from 20% in the early 20th century to less than 5% as of the early
21st century. Christians in Middle East can be considered one of the
most vulnerable groups which are on the brink of extinction demanding
immediate measures to protect and support them", said the Armenian FM.
According to him, the fight against Islamic State, al-Nusra and other
terrorist groups should be carried out in the context of preventing
genocides.
Edward Nalbandian stressed that Armenia fully supports complete
fulfillment of relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.
The Minister recalled the attacks against Armenian-populated Kessab
town by Al Qaeda-related terrorist groups and acts of vandalism against
religious and cultural heritage of Kessab and Armenian Saint Martyrs
Church in Deir-ez-Zor.
"This crime against civilization is the blatant reminder of such
barbarian acts in the past- cases of destruction of Buddhas' Bamiyan
statues, Timbuktu Tombs and thousands of medieval Armenian khachkars
in Nakhichevan when thousands of monuments were demolished under the
Azerbaijani authorities' careful supervision", said the Armenian FM
calling for severely condemning such steps.
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/foreignpolicy/13371/#sthash.xlqCFUPr.dpuf
March 3, 2015 11:14
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has
stated that the international community should take immediate steps
to protect Christians in Middle East who can be considered as one
of the most vulnerable groups in the region which are on the brink
of extinction.
Edward Nalbandian said this addressing a speech at UN-initiated
discussion on "Support to Christians' Rights in Middle East" in Geneva.
"Unfortunately, Christianity in Middle East is seriously threatened
now. Beheading of 21 Egyptian Copts and brutal attacks against
Assyrians in Syria were only the recent episodes. Suffice it to say
that the number of Christians within the overall population decreased
from 20% in the early 20th century to less than 5% as of the early
21st century. Christians in Middle East can be considered one of the
most vulnerable groups which are on the brink of extinction demanding
immediate measures to protect and support them", said the Armenian FM.
According to him, the fight against Islamic State, al-Nusra and other
terrorist groups should be carried out in the context of preventing
genocides.
Edward Nalbandian stressed that Armenia fully supports complete
fulfillment of relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.
The Minister recalled the attacks against Armenian-populated Kessab
town by Al Qaeda-related terrorist groups and acts of vandalism against
religious and cultural heritage of Kessab and Armenian Saint Martyrs
Church in Deir-ez-Zor.
"This crime against civilization is the blatant reminder of such
barbarian acts in the past- cases of destruction of Buddhas' Bamiyan
statues, Timbuktu Tombs and thousands of medieval Armenian khachkars
in Nakhichevan when thousands of monuments were demolished under the
Azerbaijani authorities' careful supervision", said the Armenian FM
calling for severely condemning such steps.
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/foreignpolicy/13371/#sthash.xlqCFUPr.dpuf