OSCE Office promotes religious tolerance in Armenia

YEREVAN, 31 October 2008 - Legislative and policy frameworks regulating religious organizations in Armenia were the focus of an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion held in Yerevan today.

Representatives of state bodies, the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, different religious and national minority communities and non-governmental organizations shared their views on the relationship between the state and religious organizations, highlighting the role of religion in society. They also discussed matters of state policy and practice in the area of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, and presented their views on the need to amend legislation regulating this sphere.

Silvia Pogolsa, Human Rights Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan said: "Religious tolerance helps support peace not only for the state, but for the whole region. We hope that this roundtable discussion will contribute to the promotion of religious tolerance in Armenia and will have its impact on legislative and policy improvements, with the involvement of all stakeholders."

Stepan Danielyan, Chairman of the Collaboration for Democracy Centre NGO, added that one of the aims of the roundtable discussion was to facilitate the dialogue between the state, Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and various religious organizations on the topic of religion in a modern state and society.

The event was organized by the Collaboration for Democracy Centre NGO, with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.