A space may be allocated for an Armenian church in Prague. Armenia National Assembly (NA) Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is in the Czech Republic on an official visit, expressed such a hope at his talk, on Thursday in the Czech capital city, with Cardinal Dominik Duka, the spiritual leader of the Czech Republic and the Archbishop of Prague.

The Armenian NA deputy chair positively evaluated the development of Armenia-Czech Republic relations and, in this respect, he underscored the collaboration between the Armenian Apostolic and the Czech Catholic Churches. Sharmazanov also highly appreciated Cardinal Duka’s efforts to install the first Armenian cross-stone in Downtown Prague.

Eduard Sharmazanov noted with delight that Cardinal Duka has twice participated in the Armenian Genocide commemoration events that were held on April 24.

The Armenian parliament vice-speaker also spoke about the destruction of the Armenian Christian cultural heritage in Azerbaijan and in Turkey. In addition, he strongly condemned the recent blasting of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, describing it as a striking manifestation of cultural genocide; he added that this is a destruction of Christian spiritual values.

For his part, the spiritual leader of the Czech Republic agreed with Eduard Sharmazanov’s assessment, and likewise condemned the destruction of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Syria.