On July 18, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan participated in the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom held in Washington D.C., attended by more than two dozen delegations at ministerial level and numerous civil society representatives. US Vice President Mike Pence made a special address to the participants of the event and Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, delivered opening remarks.

In his remarks, Minister Mnatsakanyan particularly noted: “Religion represents an institution of identity and the protection of the identity. Our history is a telling story about that. Tolerance and respect for all religions are based on our national experience, Christian heritage and a long history of living together and sharing with other faiths.

Freedom of religion and belief is an absolute human right which cannot be abolished or curtailed under any circumstances including in conflict situations.”

Underlining that the prevention of mass atrocities against religious groups is an absolute priority for Armenia, Minister Mnatsakanyan said: "Armenia became a safe haven for a number of vulnerable religious minorities particularly Yazidis and Assyrians. Today Yazidis are the strongest minority group in Armenia, and we are very proud that the biggest temple of this ancient people very soon will open in their Armenian homeland. Together with the most ancient Christian churches of the world and the magnificent Blue Mosque of Yerevan, it will symbolize the beauty of faith and tolerance. “

Within the framework of the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, the Foreign Minister of Armenia held meetings with a number of colleagues.