H. ABRAHAMIAN SAYS THE ARMENIAN LEGISLATION ON THE FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE MUST CORRESPOND TO THE EUROPEAN STANDARDS

ARMENPRESS
March 31, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, ARMENPRESS: On March 31 the Speaker of Armenian
parliament Hovik Abrahamian received the representative of Armenian
Evangelical association Rene Levonian. Public relations department
of the Armenian parliament told Armenpress that the interlocutors
discussed issues connected with the bill of making changes and
amendments in the Armenian law on "Freedom of conscience and religious
organizations".

The NA Speaker informed his interlocutor that the bill has been sent
to CoE Venice commission and OSCE ODIHR to get their joint expert
conclusion. Hovik Abrahamian stressed that the Armenian legislation on
the freedom of conscience and religious organizations must correspond
to the European standards.

R. Levonian expressed his gratification to the NA Speaker on conduction
of discussions with religious organizations over the bill. The role
and place of Armenian Apostolic Mother Church in the life of Armenian
people has been bilaterally stressed as important and the attempts
to implement spiritual kidnapping under the gossamer of charity have
been condemned.

During the conversation R. Levonian also informed the NA Speaker about
the activity of Armenian Evangelical Association in the Diaspora as
well as in Armenia and presented the programs of the organization in
the benevolent, public education, cultural and other spheres.