We raised the issue of Armenian POWs at the International Religious Freedom Summit – Archbishop Vicken Aykazian

The chair of the International Religious Freedom Summit is interested in Armenia and is sure that what has happened to Armenians in recent years is injustice, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Vice Moderator of the World Council of Churches and representative of the Armenian Church, said in an interview with Alpha News.

“A religious freedom summit was recently held in Washington, with 140 countries participating, including us. During the summit, we raised the issue of our prisoners of war, the forced displacement of 120,000 Artsakh people, as well as the spiritual wealth being destroyed by Azerbaijan in Artsakh. We raised our voice, and I can say with confidence that it was heard and was taken into account. Over these days, we heard representatives of several countries and then we had a chance to brief them on what happened in Artsakh and what may happen in the future.

The chair of the Religious Freedom Summit is a former senator. He visited Armenia, talked with our representatives, and met with the Catholicos. He is interested in Armenia and is sure that what has happened to us in recent years is injustice,” Aykazian said.

Speaking about the activities of the World Council of Churches, His Eminence noted:

“On September 19, 2023, when Azerbaijan invaded Artsakh, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches, the leader of the Swiss Protestant Churches and I were 1 km from Lachin. We were not allowed to go further because a war could break out. Before they reached Etchmiadzin, they sent letters all over the world telling about what was happening to the Armenian people. When they returned, they spread statements supporting Armenia, or rather, presented reality. They noted that what they saw was completely different from what they heard. And today, when necessary, the World Council of Churches makes statements in support of the Armenian people.”