Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations meets with the Ambassador of Palestine

On 12 May 2010, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman for the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine to the Russian Federation Dr. Fa’ed Mustafa.

Ambassador Mustafa noted the deep historical ties between the peoples of Palestine and Russia and expressed confident in the strengthening of these relations.

The DECR Chairman underscored the importance of the holy places in the territory of Palestine for the believers and noted the necessity of free access to the places of veneration and the establishment of security regime, as well as of the protection of the holy sites from desecration.

Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his hope for the soonest establishment of peace in Palestine and emphasized that the Russian Orthodox Church would exert all possible efforts to achieve this object.

Certain business issues were also discussed.

In conclusion of their meeting Metropolitan Hilarion and Ambassador Mustafa exchanged presents.