Armenian people are familiar firsthand with religious and ethnic intolerance, President Sargsyan said during the meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of States in Minsk.

Next year the Armenians will mark centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire with large-scale events all over the globe.

“We believe that one of the key instruments to prevent repetition of an awful crime is recognition and condemnation of the crimes against humanity,” President Sargsyan said in Minsk.

One of the latest manifestations of religious intolerance is blasting of Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Deir ez-Zor, Syria, by a terrorist group called Islamic State.

“Desecration of the remains of victims of the Genocide, kept in the crypt of the church, inhuman oppressions faced by Christians, Yazidis, and other communities in the Middle East, cannot be justified and are not in compliance with the philosophy of religions we know, including Islam. We are grateful to all those who have joined us in strong condemnation of the barbaric act,” President said.  

Amid worsening political situation in many regions of the world, the growth of international tension and cooperation within the Commonwealth should be targeted at ensuring peace and stability, settlement of existing and prevention of possible conflicts by peaceful means on the basis of international law, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act, Serzh Sargsyan resumed.