YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Ambassador to Canada, Armen Yeganian, on Monday met with Ambassador Andrew Bennett, the head of the newly-created Canadian Office of Religious Freedom. 

As Ambassador Yeganian was informed by Bennett, the main goal of the Office is to provide broader opportunities for human rights leadership of Canada and to react to the cases of religious freedom violations worldwide, Armenian MFA press service informs.

Ambassadors discussed the freedom of religion in Armenia, noted the existence of a Muslim Shia mosque, a Jewish synagogue, an Orthodox Christian church alongside the Armenian churches. The presence of dozens of Armenian churches in Canada and the participation of the vibrant Armenian community in the cultural life of Canada were also discussed.

Armen Yeganian presented the cases of destruction of Armenian spiritual and cultural monuments in Turkey and Azerbaijan. Ambassador also brought the issue of the demolition of Armenian medieval cemetery and thousands of Armenian cross-stones (Khachkars) in Jugha by Azerbaijani government to the attention of Ambassador Bennett and stressed the importance of punishment and prevention of such barbaric acts.

At the end of the meeting the Ambassadors emphasized their willingness to cooperate in the fields of religious freedom and preservation of cultural values.