WASHINGTON, DC — On February 3, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States, Narek Mkrtchyan, participated in the “Save Armenia 2.0 Launch” event held within the framework of the International Religious Freedom Summit.
During the event, Ambassador Mkrtchyan delivered remarks outlining Armenia’s approach to protecting the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief. He emphasized that religious freedom is one of the core human rights, enabling individuals to shape their identity, values, and moral choices without fear, pressure, or discrimination.
In his speech, the ambassador noted that Armenia, as the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion, possesses a rich historical experience regarding the role of faith in preserving national identity and culture. At the same time, he underlined that modern Armenia is a secular state, where all citizens are equal before the law regardless of their religious beliefs.
Ambassador Mkrtchyan also presented Armenia’s religiously diverse environment, stressing that alongside the historically unique role of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, Yezidi, Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Evangelical, and other religious communities operate freely in the country, with their rights protected within the same legal framework.
He highlighted that safeguarding freedom of belief contributes to social stability and democratic resilience, warning that the politicization and exploitation of religion can deepen divisions and threaten long-term security.
At the same time, Ambassador Mkrtchyan expressed regret that the respected platform of the International Religious Freedom Summit had been used by an oligarch-led political movement to discredit Armenia’s democratic path and to attempt to influence electoral processes.
In conclusion, Ambassador Narek Mkrtchyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to continuing the protection of freedom of religion or belief both domestically and internationally, viewing it as a fundamental pillar of democratic stability and lasting peace. He concluded his remarks by citing Proverbs 16:8:
“Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.”
