All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations Proposes Meeting with President

KYIV  – The heads of the Ukrainian confessions propose a meeting between Ukraine’s President and the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) in order to continue the tradition of constructive cooperation between the council and president. The chairman of the council, Bishop Markian Trofymiak, on March 18, 2010, sent an address in this regard to Viktor Yanukovych on behalf of the council, reports the Institute of Religious Freedom (IRF).

“During the time of its activity, the council has become a leading arena for the inter-confessional dialogue and settlement of church-state questions,” notes the address, the copy of which has been passed to IRF.

The spiritual leaders note that “as part of the communication with the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations regular meetings of Ukraine’s presidents, prime ministers, speakers, and heads and representatives of parliamentary factions were held.” Furthermore, the participation of the council helped to establish public councils attached to the ministries of Defense, Education, Emergency Situations, and other governmental structures of Ukraine.  

Therefore Bishop Markian Trofymiak on behalf of the AUCCRO proposed to Viktor Yanukovych to hold at his earliest convenience a meeting with the council to continue the dialogue and establish cooperation.

The questions to be discussed at the meeting include the establishment of high moral values in the society, the further development of cooperation between the state and confessions in the humanitarian area, and the improvement of conditions for spiritual and social activity of churches and religious organizations at the legislative level.