A climate of tolerance and dialogue between the majority population and national minority groups generally prevails in Armenia, said the new report published by the Council of Europe today.
However, economic difficulties continue to adversely affect the population, and more effort is required to ensure full access to education for all, and criminalise forced early marriages.
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) acknowledged the commitment of Armenian population and authorities to promoting the principles of equality and non-discrimination, including rights of national minorities. Notably, the amended constitution introduces a specific provision on the protection of the right to a national and ethnic identity; the new Electoral Code provides for parliamentary representation for the four largest national minorities in the country.
Other positive observations include the continued support of cultural projects and media for national minorities; improved possibilities for self-identification during the census of 2011 where the questions on ethnic affiliation and languages spoken were open-ended and optional. The Council of Europe experts also find it commendable that, in spite of economic difficulties, Armenia admitted into the country more than 20,000 people, mainly of Armenian and Assyrian descent fleeing the conflict in Syria.
However, even though the authorities promote inter-ethnic tolerance and understanding in society, Armenia is widely perceived as a mono-ethnic homogenous and mono-religious state. This, coupled with lack of media attention, limits the visibility of minorities and leads to their side-lining.
The unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the closed borders with neighbouring states have led to socio-economic hardships, which are particularly acute...
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