KIEVERS OPPOSE CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CHURCH
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
19/04/2006
A Temporary Problem?
In 1992, Kiev authorities granted the Armenian community of Ukraine
a territory of 1022 square meters as a church site. The Armenian
community raised the necessary sum and begun the construction works
but residents of the city have recently knocked down fences around
the construction site declaring that they will allow no construction
in a green zone.
Kievers said that no one is allowed to destroy the park Armenians,
Moslems or Ukrainians regardless. Even the Jews, old residents
of Kiev’s Podol, built no synagogue even though they had such
plans. According to RFE/RL, Vahe Stepanian, head of the Armenian
community of Ukraine, voiced concern and stated that he is ready
to protect the rights of Armenians in court as the community has
all necessary documents and, besides, has already spent money for
the construction.
Regnum news agency quoted Oksana Vovk, secretary on humanitarian
issues at the Ukrainian Embassy in Armenia, as saying that this is
a temporary problem.
Reminding the recent meeting between Ukrainian ambassador Alexander
Bozhko and the head of Armenian diocese in Ukraine, Grigoris Buniatian,
Vovk informed that they had no discord over the would-be construction:
“This is not the first church to be built in Ukraine, therefore no
serious problem should emerge.”