June 20, 2009 - 16:40 AMT
Integration of Islamized Armenians in Armenian society threatens country's security
Armenian identity has already been shaped, and it is not acceptable to call the generation of Islamized Armenians "Muslim Armenians", since there is no such notion, said a historian Tamara Vardanyan to news conference in Yerevan today.

"Today we face a challenge of obliteration of our national identity. Integration of generations of Islamized Armenians not recognizing themselves as Armenians and Christians into Armenian society threatens Armenia's security," the historian said. However, according to Tamara Vardanyan, small number of Islamized Armenians return to Armenia, visit Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and again adopt Christian denomination.

"Islam is a world-view, style of life and an Armenian adopted Islam is alienated from national values and roots. In some cases they are much more faithful Muslims. The key question is whether these Armenians admit Armenia to be their motherland or not," she stressed. According to her, today there is no precise data about the quantity of Armenians, whose ancestors adopted Islam. Meanwhile, Armenians wishing to come back to Christianity are very few.