The delegation of UCC and RO is staying in Germany with an official visit

We inform that the participants of the delegation during the visit are: His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Head of the UGCC; His Holiness Filaret, the Head of the UOC, Kyiv Patriarchate; father Oleksa Petriv, the head of the Department of Foreign Relations of UGCC in Ukraine; Archbishop Petro Malchuk, the representative of RCC external affairs in Ukraine; Mykhailo Panochko, the head of Union of Churches of Christians of Evangelical Faith – Pentecostalism; Henadiy Biloritskiy, the representative of Association of Judaic Religious Organizations in Ukraine; the Grand Mufti of Ukraine, Ahmed Tamim; Valeriy Antonyuk, the President of the Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (UECB); Mykola Danylevych, the Deputy Head of the Department for External Relations of UOC (MP); Oleksandr Zaiets, a head of the board of Institute for Religious Freedom.

In Berlin airport, the delegation was met by Gabriele Bauman, Head of KAS Office in Kyiv. On a first visit day the delegation was greeted with an ex-president of Euro-Parliament, a Chairman of the KA Foundation, d-r Hans-Gert Petering. The present ones shared their minds, considering events in Ukraine, Russian aggression against our country, the role of Churches and religious organizations in a social life, conciliation and overcoming a conflict.

D-r Petering pointed out, Foundation support a position of German Government, regarding unacceptability of Russian’s occupation the Crimea and aggression on East Ukraine. “Our position we are reporting to a Russian figures”, - mentioned he.

A meeting was set up in a constructive way and its participants were able to share their thoughts and experiences, as to Ukrainian theme and religious, state and social German life, as well.

On 30^th of June, in the morning, in a chamber of a Foundation Academy was held a meeting with a coordinator of KAS religious issues, d-r Karlis Abmayer. Mrs. Abmayer told about a religious situation in Germany, relationships between religions, about a social perception of religion, etc.

A meeting, proceeding later, was arranged with the members of Protomartyr Stephen’s group of CDU/CSU in German Bundestag. The aim of starting this group, following by nearly 80 parliamentarians, is a fight against a persecution of faithful, first of all, - defence of Christians against a persecution.

The speakers from German and Ukrainian sides stressed, the reason of war in East Ukraine is not a conflict between religions or nations, but a Russian aggression. It was mentioned, for people in Europe, particularly in German, is important to know the truth about the reasons of the conflict, to have an opportunity to overcome Kremlin’s propagation influence, talking about a “civil” or “religious” war, concealing the main role of Russia as an aggressor. After the meeting the delegators went sightseeing bus-tour of Berlin.

In the evening, in a chamber of Bundestag, the delegation was accepted by a plenipotentiary for Church and religious affairs CDU Fraction in Parliament, ex-minister of the FRG Cabinet, d-r Franz Josef Jung. There was being discussed the situation in Ukraine and in the world, arisen because of Russian aggression against our country. Within an hour and half the participants had a possibility to share their opinions and express their minds about different aspects of the situation.

During the speech, His Beatitude Sviatoslav stressed that an interconfessional and international peace reign in Ukraine (a proof of it shall be a membership of the delegation and its accord due to the main questions of a social being). “There is no civic war, but there is an armed occupation of part of Ukraine by an aggressive neighbour, who has broken international law”, - added he. His Beatitude Sviatoslav also thanked German officials for not “being tired” of Ukraine but from now on defends our right for independence, selfhood, a right to choose our future and religious liberty. For where the “Russian world” has come, - these right are violated roughly.

For the further days of a visit, the delegation of UCC and RO will meet with a plenipotentiary deputy for Church affairs, religious and worldwide organizations, secretary of state at the ministry of culture of Berlin, d-r Dirk Kregel; assistant manager of a Catholic office of German Bishops’ Commissary in Berlin, Katarina Yeshtedt; plenipotentiary for the Council of Evangelical Church in Germany, d-r Matin Dutsman; the leader of the section of cooperation with Europe and North America, Department for International Cooperation, Ensom Paulyus; the head of Turkish-Islamic community of Neukölln borough, Ender Cetin; a leading military dean, plenipotentiary for Catholic Church Affairs at the subdivisions of setting targets of Bundeswehr, monsignor Joachim Zimon; Rabbi of Jewish community in Berlin, Daniel Alter.

The UGCC Department of Information