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The Church of Greece has been supporting our Cypriot brothers since the issue of their liberation was raised. This support never assumed a political dimension because for all Greeks worldwide the issue of Cyprus is not political but national. At a time when international legal principles, international institutions and the credibility of their decisions are on trial, our mind recollects with respect and awe the sacrifices and the decade long struggles of Cypriot Hellenism.

The Church of Greece notes with satisfaction, as it appears, that Cyprus has been invited to join the European Union. We expect that the political leadership of the EU, in the upcoming Copenhagen conference, will confirm this decision, and in so doing uphold the very European tradition, which created the concept of International Law, in order to contain the arrogance of the powerful.

The Church of Greece also notes with satisfaction the decision of the Secretary General of the United Nations to assume the initiative for a resolution of the Cyprus issue. The Church ascertains, however, that the Secretary General’s plan proposed is not firm, as it should have been, upon the Resolutions of the Organisation, which he represents. The Church ascertains too that the plan is not guided by the juridical ideas of the European Union, which the Republic of Cyprus has been invited to join and in which it will develop. On the contrary, this plan suggests the possibility of long-term trials and conflict, despite its references to the convergence of circumstances and political balances. Given these, the Church cannot laud the plan of the Secretary General of the United Nations for it deems that it is not one that will yield a genuine resolution of the Cyprus issue.

It is true that the convergence of circumstances and pressures borne of reality have the power of force. Logic and conscience demand resistance however. The middle ground, that of measure, not retreat obliges a generation responsible for a slew of errors, in other words all of us, to consider that tomorrow will be like for the youth of Cyprus, and to offer it hope, the prospect of peaceful coexistence, dignity and progress.

The Church of Greece prays for the Divine Enlightenment of the leadership of our country, and while honouring the entire political realm, supplicates our Lord on its behalf. The Church, recognizing its role is not one to given directions to the political leadership. It does have the duty, however, to bear witness as to whether “it relates to the suffering and struggle of the country”, or “relating to salvation”, as was just done by the Most Holy Church of Cyprus. For the Church is obliged to provide succour to a suffering people as much as it does to the suffering individual person. This being understood in good faith, the Church calls on the political leadership of Hellenism to remain steady and unswerving with regard to values and principles that have been preserved by the Greek people over centuries, and which provide the foundation for its survival. Proposals and plans may provide the basis for negotiation. The value Hellenism has held most dear during its long historical course is freedom. The struggle on its behalf is not negotiable, despite circumstances, conditions and proposals.

The Church of Greece shall pray for justice to prevail on all sides and promises to support the good intentions, from whatever direction these may come, so that the expectations of the Cypriots shall be respected.

The state of Bavaria plans to take a tougher stance on the Church of Scientology by increasing state assistance for what it calls victims of the religious organization founded by L. Ron Hubbard. Bavarian Interior Minister Hermann Regensburger has launched proposals that would mobilize state resources to help citizens that have suffered economic or mental damage from Scientology members. The Bavarian state government also plans to continue police observation of the organization. Regensburger has called on the federal government to examine whether to ban Scientology, arguing that it contravened the core values of the German constitution.

A ten-day course of study for continuing education of the leadership staff of the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs) opened in the Russian Academy of State Service of the presidential administration of the Russian federation. Deputies and government workers will explain to the clergy how they should conduct relations between the state and church.  The classes were arranged in accordance with an agreement that was signed in September by the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Academy of State Service (RAGS) for a curriculum of continuing education for the leadership staff of RPTs.

The basic goal of the classes, according to RAGS Rector Vladimir Egorov, is to give leaders of RPTs understanding in the area of contemporary law, economics, and financial credit, which will permit the leading confession of Russia to participate actively in the life of the state.

Yesterday the clergy also had a meeting with the minister for nationalities affairs of Russia, Vladimir Zorin, who described for the clergy ethno-confessional relations and state nationality policy in contemporary Russia. He reported that now in Russia there are registered 21,000 religious organizations, of which 53% are organizations of RPTs, 17.8% are protestant, 14.9% are Muslim, 1.3% are Catholic, 1.2% are Old Believers, 0.9% are Buddhist, 0.9% are Jewish, and 10% are other religious organizations.