The authorities, represented by Nikol Pashinyan, are trying to assign blame for their own failures. This was stated by Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan at a discussion in Yerevan dedicated to the problems in relations between the state and the church.
“It is extremely regrettable that in these days, when the country has not overcome the consequences of a catastrophic war and is confronting the gravest security challenges, when dangerous processes and clashes are taking place in the region, we are forced to deal with an issue that is directly destroying the internal life of the nation. I cannot find a logical explanation for the authorities’ campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church. This is extremely regrettable and shows that the RA authorities, represented by the head of the government, do not represent their mission and, instead of fulfilling their direct responsibilities, are trying to create false agendas. The goal of the campaign is obvious to everyone. It is also no coincidence that the choice of goal coincides with the priorities of the propaganda machine of Azerbaijan. The patterns are noticeable. The time for reasonable discussions has passed and the rhetoric of the head of government does not give any choice but to give a legal assessment. Afterwards, it will be time to involve healthcare professionals so that they can professionally assess the condition of the person who allows himself to make such statements,” the archbishop noted.
Arshak Khachatryan completely rejected the accusations that the AAC interferes in political issues and that the church does not make enough efforts to protect heritage. In this regard, the archbishop advised looking at the data and making sure that 18 thousand out of 24 thousand are religious sites. Of these, no more than 600 were transferred to the church. “Compare and see that the state does not fulfill its obligations here either. According to the Minister of Education, only 5 million dollars have been spent on monuments in 7 years. Given that the cost of reconstructing the Echmiadzin Cathedral exceeded 12 million dollars, and the authorities did not participate in any way,” the archbishop recalled.
Regarding the accusations of ineffectively fighting sects, Arshak Khachatryan noted that it cannot be otherwise if the authorities have opened the doors wide to such organizations and bad morals.
“As for the vow of celibacy, I have the impression that Artsakh was surrendered to the authorities because someone did not keep the vow. That is, the man (Pashinyan) is trying to assign blame for his failures,” the archbishop concluded.