Archbishop Paul requests second reading of Rudd Government

ANTIOCHIAN ARCHBISHOP PAUL OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND REQUESTS SECOND READING OF RUDD GOVERNMENT

Sydney, 10 March 2008, His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Paul of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand in his letters to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, requested a second reading of their decision of 19 February 2008 to recognise Kosovo's unilateral secession from the Republic of Serbia. "The determination of final status can neither be seen as a reward for systematic violence and organized terror", stated the Archbishop, "nor undertaken without the continued, full involvement of the Serbian government and the United Nations." For these reasons, the head of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia urged Prime Minister Rudd and his government to revoke their decision to recognise Kosovo independence, while using Australia's good standing as an international citizen to respect the rule of law by fostering negotiation and constructive dialogue among the interested parties.

Source: http://www.antiochian.org.au