Armenian vote could limit evangelism from West

Like other former Soviet republics, Armenia finds democracy limits incumbent power.

“Constitutional amendments proposed by a commission working under President Serzh Sargsyan’s office would provide for freedom of religion and ban religious discrimination, yet article 41 stipulates that such freedom could be restricted ‘with the aim of protecting state security, the public order, health and morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.’”

The established Armenian Apostolic Church has a “privileged place” in Armenian society, and “has an ‘exclusive mission’ as ‘the national church in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of its national culture, and in the preservation of its national identity.’”

Any attempt at converting Armenians from the national church to a “perverse” Western “sect” could be detrimental to state security.

Armenians running the government need to remember their political and diplomatic efforts last year at gaining international recognition for genocide by the Turkish government 100 years ago.

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/76271

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