Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
May 17, 2006

PATRIARCH PAVLE RECEIVES HEAD OF THE SERBIA-MONTENEGRO PRO-UNION BLOCK
MEMBERS OF INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA MEET WITH HIGH REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTIAN SCHWARZ-SCHILLING

PATRIARCH PAVLE RECEIVES HEAD OF THE SERBIA-MONTENEGRO PRO-UNION BLOCK

On May 17, 2006, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle received Mr. Predrag Bulatovic, the president of the Socialist People’s Party of Montenegro, and head of the Serbia-Montenegro pro-union block. Also present were His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral and Protodeacon Momir Lecic, head of cabinet of the Serbian Patriarch.

During the conversation the Patriarch underscored that unity and togetherness are the foundation of every healthy human and social life, togetherness in freedom and justice. Therefore, God’s justice and God’s judgment represent the final measure of our justice and everything that is created and done by human beings on earth.

The Patriarch expressed the expectation that the citizens of Montenegro of their own free will would demonstrate seriousness in this historic moment, and that the forthcoming referendum would unfold in peace and mutual respect.

Mr. Predrag Bulatovic first asked His Holiness for his blessing and asked him to pray to God for the salvation of our people and state. He then informed the Patriarch of the situation and deep divisions among the citizens in Montenegro. Mr. Bulatovic nevertheless expressed the hope that the citizens of Montenegro would share the high responsibility of their ancestors in the forthcoming referendum, and that they would leave their heirs a common state as their legacy.

Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church

MEMBERS OF INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA MEET WITH HIGH REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTIAN SCHWARZ-SCHILLING

On Monday, May 15, 2006, in the facilities of the Inter-Religious Council in Sarajevo, the members of the Inter-Religious Council met with Mr. Christian Schwarz-Schilling, the High Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Present at the meeting with Mr. Schwarz-Schilling were Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabro-Bosnia, the chairman of the Inter-Religious Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina; Roman Catholic Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Vrhbosna (Sarajevo); deputy head of the Islamic Community Ismet Spahic, on behalf of Mustafa Ceric, the head; and Mr. Boris Kozhemyakin of the Jewish Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina, on behalf of Mr. Jakob Finci, the president.

On behalf of the Inter-Religious Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Metropolitan Nikolaj welcomed the High Representative and thanked him for his visit. The Metropolitan observed that public figures, who have been entrusted with responsibility, in these times frequently have the tendency to stray from the path of the common good and progress in the country. This phenomenon is cause for concern, which everyone feels quite strongly. That is why we are all making the effort, to the extent that we are able, to assist both by teaching and by example. We hope that this will not be understood as self-praise but [a reflection of] the fact that we are working in accordance with the book of life: our Jewish brothers according to the Old Testament, the Christians according to the Gospels – the New Testament, and our Muslim brothers according to the Koran. In this we seek, as God’s associates, to be the best we can be.

The High Representative expressed his thanks for the words of welcome. He emphasized that the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina is extremely difficult and that an improvement can only be achieved through joint efforts by religious and political leaders. As well, the High Representative emphasized that he supports the work of the Inter-Religious Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

A press conference was given after the meeting with Metropolitan Nikolaj and Mr. Schwarz-Schilling as the speakers.

Source: Metropolitanate of Dabro-Bosnia