His Holiness Patriarch Alexy meets the Prime Minister of Estonia Yu.Parts
29.09.2003 · English, Архив 2003
HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY MEETS THE PRIME MINISTER OF ESTONIA YU.PARTS
On 26 September 2003 the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met with the Prime Minister of Estonia Yu.Parts. Taking part in the meeting were members of the official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, members of the Government of Estonia, Ambassadors of the Russian Federation in Estonia and of the Estonia Republic in Russia.
His Holiness the Patriarch greeted the young and energetic politician (Yu.Parts is 37) and expressed his hope that the new generation of Estonian political leaders will be able to solve the problems accumulated for the last years and ensure a dynamic development of the country.
Having reminded the audience that the principle of equality is one of the fundamentals in the programme of the present government of Estonia, His Holiness noted the importance of building up the harmonious society, in which all people, who belong to different national, cultural and language groups will feel equal. Hope was expressed in this regard that the forthcoming entry of Estonia in the European Union will facilitate the implementation of civil rights of all people who live the country.
His Holiness the Patriarch spoke in particular about the situation of believers who belong to the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. It is important that they are not frustrated, as was the case for the long ten years, during which this Church had not been recognized by the Estonian State, – underlined His Holiness the Patriarch. His Holiness expressed his opinion that such a situation had been a serious error of the politicians of the early 1990s. Now, thanks be to God, this error has been corrected, and that allowed the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church to visit Estonia, which is so dear to his heart.
‘A warm reception, which is being given to us from the first day of the visit to the Estonian land, confirms that the new Government of Estonia is prepared to continue the policy of ensuring civil rights in all their fullness’, – said His Holiness Patriarch Alexy.
He also expressed his hope that further steps will be taken for resolving the problem of the property rights of the Church. The registration of the Statute of the EOC MP and the protocols of intent signed last October allowed to considerably improve the situation of Orthodoxy in Estonia. The Moscow Patriarchate retains its principal position: it is necessary to ensure equal conditions of using the church property by the two Orthodox ecclesiastical structures. An agreement with the Patriarchate of Constatinople in this regard was reached in Zurich in 1996 and was confirmed at the bilateral conversations held this year and in the official letter from the Patriarch of Constantinople. ‘The implementation of this agreement will promote fraternal relations among the believers and facilitate close cooperation between the Orthodox Christians in Estonia. That will be of benefit to Estonian society as a whole. We are happy with an opportunity to have this personal meeting, which allows us to share with you the concerns of our believers’, – said His Holiness.
Yu.Parts expressed his cordial gratitude to His Holiness the Patriarch for his visit to Estonia. ‘It is a great honour to me to welcome You, Your Holiness’ , – said the head of the cabinet of ministers of Estonia and assured His Holiness that his government understands the concern of His Holiness the Patriarch for the just and equitable solution all the problems connected with the ensuring the rights of the believers. ‘Our government will do anything that lies in its power for successful solution of these problems’, – said Yu.Parts.
The Prime Minister took a keen interest in the current life of the Moscow Patriarchate. His Holiness the Patriarch told the Prime Minister of Estonia about comprehensive revival of the ecclesiastical life in Russia and other states, which make up the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church, about the recent opening of new parishes in different foreign countries as well as about the development of spiritual enlightenment and religious education.
A particular attention was paid to the subject of interconfessional and interreligious cooperation. His Holiness the Patriarch told the Prime Minister about his participation in the founding of the Estonian Council of Churches, which was the first organization of such kind in the Soviet Union and gave a good example of cooperation among different Christian communities. Yu.Parts noted that the Council continued this good tradition in its work at present. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy also told the Prime Minister about the activities of the Interreligious Council of Russia.
The meeting was concluded with the exchange of souvenirs.
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