AAC Georgian Diocese concerned over statement by Georgian Deputy Minister for Reintegration

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) issued a statement expressing concern over the position of Georgian Deputy Minister for Reintegration Elena Tevtoradze.

“The AAC in Georgia is a mere subsidiary of Holy Etchmiadzin. Georgia has no intention to provide a status to Georgian Diocese,” she said at the conference on problems and perspectives of Georgia’s Armenian community.

“The statement by the Deputy Minister is incomprehensible to the Armenian community. Earlier, during the meetings with community representatives, the Reintegration Ministry officials confirmed their intention to introduce changes in Georgia’s civil legislation, envisaging provision of public entity status to religious communities of Georgia,” the community reacted.

“Tevtoradze’s behavior runs counter to the principles of Georgia’s democratic policy, violating religious rights of a person. The politician’s position is at variance with that of Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II who supports provision of legal status to Georgia’s religious communities.”