October 31, 2011 - 16:47 AMT
ARFD supports return of property to AAC, concerned over pressure

ARF Dashnaktsutyun supports governmental resolution to return property to Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC); however, the party is concerned about foreign-policy consequences of the step.

As ARFD parliamentary group leader Vahan Hovhannisyan told a news conference in Yerevan, “in Soviet time, the Church, as an integral part of Armenian society, was dealt the most serious blow and suffered grave losses. And current Republic of Armenia has to compensate them.”

However, Hovhannisyan was concerned that other religious unions might use the decision against Armenia, while he is unsure if Armenian authorities and the society could withstand the outer pressure.

Armenian National Assembly passed an amendment to the Law on Property, envisaging tax exemption for Armenian Apostolic Church.