H.Hopko partakes in roundtable on religious freedoms

The head of the Foreign Affairs Committee Hanna Hopko took part in a roundtable on religious freedoms. She also met with Samuel D. Brownback, the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

While her working visit to the U.S., the politician participated on July 17 in a roundtable dedicated to religious freedoms issues chaired by Samuel D. Brownback, the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, with the venue in Washington.

Thereupon, accompanied by AmbassadorExtraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to theUSA Valerii Chalyi, she had a special sitting with Sam Brownback, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

In her speech, Anna Hopko called Russia to account for the murdering 298 MH-17 passengers and observed the need to mete out justice over the aggressor country. She also appealed to the world community making a plea to exert a heavier pressure upon Russia urging it to respect the human rights in the Russia-occupied Crimea and the Donbas.

The committee head emphasized the continuing persecution of religious freedoms of different nature, other religious persecutions and a systematic use of torture against citizens by the Russian Federation.

Particular heed was also paid to a do-or-die situation with the Kremlin’s political detainees, the need for international support and concerted vigorous efforts to free the hostages.

The committee head confirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the principles of tolerance and non-discrimination in the Ukrainian society.

In her report, the politician pointed out how significant for the state’s sovereignty was granting the Tomos of Autocephaly. “This is a landmark decision – the Autocephaly for our Orthodox local church. This mighty tool is capable of stopping Russia from bringing up corruptive influence against the religious of Ukraine,” underlined the head of the committee.

In the course of the meeting with Ambassador Sam Brownback, preparatory works for an important ministerial meeting on promoting freedom of religion to be held in Washington next week were talked over, and more details about the efforts aimed at obtaining autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church and the importance of international support for the protection of human rights and freedoms in the occupied territories, and the release of political hostages were given.