WikiLeaks – Armenia No 102
2009-07-23
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 YEREVAN 000517
SUBJECT: POLICY CHANGE TOWARDS MINORITY FAITHS IN ARMENIA?
Classified By: AMB Marie L. Yovanovitch, reasons 1.4 (b,d).
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SUMMARY
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¶1. (C) On July 16, Father Ktrij Devejian (please protect AMCIT), the foreign press secretary of the “Catholicosate of All Armenians Mother See of Holy Echmiatsin,” briefed the Ambassador on recent church developments. A charismatic Armenian-American, Fr. Ktrij said all the right things in response to our concerns about recent developments; however, it remains to be seen whether the Armenian Church’s words will be matched by its actions. END SUMMARY.
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“GOOD PROSELYTISM” IS OK
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¶2. (C) Defining proselytism became a hotly disputed topic in Armenia’s religious community after the Armenian parliament in March adopted — in a first reading only — draft amendments to the “Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” and Armenia’s Criminal Code. The drafts defined proselytism as an offense in broad, vague terms, and established criminal penalties for its practice. Following a joint, critical assessment by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR Advisory Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief, the draft laws have bogged down in parliament, their fate uncertain.
¶3. (C) Fr. Ktrij claimed that the Armenian Church was not involved in the development of the draft laws, which, according to many, further advanced the interests of the Armenian Church at the expense of other religious groups. The author of the drafts was then-MP Armen Ashotian, who has since been appointed Education Minister. Fr. Ktrij stated that Ashotian consulted with Church representatives only after the draft had been prepared, and that the Church had advised him to adhere to the World Council of Churches’ definition of proselytism, and to apply restrictions equally to all religious groups in Armenia, including the Armenian Church. Fr. Ktrij noted that the Armenian Church opposed “bad” proselytism — when carried out via fraudulent means and promises, material encouragement, coercion and repeated harassment. However, he said Echmiatsin had no problem with “good” proselytism — that which results from an honest delivery of content or good ministering skills.
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LIVE AND LET LIVE FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES?
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¶4. (C) Fr. Ktrij stated that even though proselytism by “sects or cults” — by which he meant Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Adventists, etc. — remains a major problem for the Armenian Church, Echmiatsin has decided on a new policy to ignore them. Fr. Ktrij said Echmiatsin has realized that even if these “sects” convert 500 additional people, it will neither make the Armenian Church weaker nor the particular “sect” stronger, with the congregation of the Armenian Church still constituting more than 90 percent of Armenia’s population. (COMMENT: If true, this “laissez-faire” policy will signal a drastic change for the Armenian Church, and represent a significant breakthrough with respect to religious freedom. END COMMENT. )
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SPAT WITH EVANGELICALS IS PURELY PERSONAL
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¶5. (C) Fr. Ktrij acknowledged that the long- running feud between Echmiatsin and the Armenian Evangelical Church needs resolving. He stated that Echmiatsin has no doctrinal problems with the Evangelicals, and pointed to the normal relations the two churches used to enjoy before the appointment of Rev. Rene Leonian as head of the Evangelical Church in Armenia. Fr. Ktrij asserted that Leonian personally poisoned relations through a series of provocations, such as when he reportedly stated on the radio that the Armenian Church was merely a historical relic. However, Fr. Ktrij said Echmiatsin was cautiously optimistic about overcoming “the artificial tension” between the two churches, pointing to the upcoming visit of an Evangelical commission to Armenia. The visit was the result of an April 2009 meeting in the United States between Garegin II and Andrew Torigian, the head of the U.S.-based Armenian Missionary Association of American (AMAA). Torigian apparently offered the visit as a way to improve relations.
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“THE SINGING MEN OF OKLAHOMA” SAGA
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¶6. (C) Fr. Ktrij explained in detail the motives of the Armenian Church towards the “Singing Men of Oklahoma,” the Evangelical choir that visited Armenia in April only to see the majority of its planned concerts abruptly canceled under pressure from Echmiatsin. Fr. Ktrij said that Echmiatsin directed its ire not at the choir per se, but at those who misinformed it prior to its trip by characterizing Armenia as anti-Semitic and ineffective in delivering the gospel to the population. (COMMENT: While not explicit, it appeared Fr. Ktrij was implying that this was the mischief of Rev. Leonian. END COMMENT.)
¶7. (C) Fr. Ktrij said that this misinformation initially posted and then refuted on the choir’s official website — was reproduced on many other websites and in numerous church newsletters in the United States, together with the suggestion that the choir was headed to Armenia to “Christianize” it. Fr. Ktrij declared that Echmiatsin will personally invite the same or another similar group to come and perform in Echmiatsin within the next two years. He also noted that as bad as the incident was, it re-opened communications with the Evangelical Church.
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OVER-THE-TOP CLERIC
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¶8. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern over the conduct of Sepouh Chouldjian, one of the bishops in the Armenian Church, and Primate of the Diocese of Gougark (Lori Region). Chouldjian is known for his intolerant behavior, hostile sermons, and media appearances targeting other religious groups. Fr. Ktrij disavowed the bishop’s behavior, which he described as over the top and having nothing to do with internal Church life, and noted that Chouldjian had publicly contradicted the official position of the Catholicos on other important issues. Fr. Ktrij said the Catholicos was not happy with Chouldjian, but was silent on what actions the Catholicos would take to discipline the wayward bishop.
Fr. Ktrij will be matched by Church actions.
YOVANOVITCH
