In Moscow Open Forum Club holds a session on “Russia and Georgia after the war: prospects of relations”

On September 3, 2008 in Moscow the Open Forum Club held a session on the topic of “Russia and Georgia after the war: prospects of relations”. Participating in the event were scientists, public figures and publicists. Among the speakers was Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, Vice-Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations. According to Father Vsevolod, it is evident for an unbiased observer that neither Russia nor the Ossetian people initiated the recent massive use of violence after years of relative peace in the conflict zone. Its recent stage has led to numerous victims among peacemaker warriors, Ossetian and Georgian civilians. Today, although the recent tragedy has sharply divided peoples of the same faith it is necessary to prevent their becoming eternal enemies. The speaker also urged to prevent escalation of anti-Georgian emotions in Russia. Fr. Vsevolod spoke about the peace-making and humanitarian efforts of the Russian Orthodox Church in the conflict zone and its contacts with the Georgian Church.