Meeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kiril with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
27/1/2010
Moscow: On January 27, 2010, at the Patriarch’s working residence, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill met with the Head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), President Mahmoud Abbas. Top delegates of the Russian Orthodox Church attended the meeting, which included deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR staff monk Stefan (Igumnov) and V V Kipshidze.
Mahmoud Abbas was accompanied by Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Faed Mustafa, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization Saeb Oreykat, adviser to the head of the Palestinian National Authority, Azzam Al-Ahmed, a spokesman for the PNA Head in the rank of minister, Nabil Abu Rudeina. Among the participants were representative of Russia to the Palestinian National Authority, SG Kozlov, Adviser, Department of Middle East and North Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, TF Zabirov, Special Envoy of the Foreign Ministry Russia AV Vdovin.
His Holiness Patriarch Cyril warmly welcomed the President of the Palestinian Authority. Recalling the meeting held a year ago, His Holiness said: “I am very pleased to continue our dialogue”. Holy Lord said the centuries-old heart connection with Palestine, the Russian people – thousands and thousands of pilgrims from the Russian Orthodox Church visited before and is now visited the Holy Land. “I would like to thank you and through you the Palestinian people for their hospitality and kindness to our pilgrims, to the Russian Church and Russia”, – continued Holiness Patriarch Cyril, stressing that the Russian people, along with the inhabitants of Palestine are deeply experiencing the tragic events that occur in the Holy Land. “Of course, the path to peace in the Holy Land is not simple, it requires wisdom, courage and patience, – stated the Russian Orthodox Church. – But there is no human problem that can not be resolved, especially with God’s help. Therefore, I express my deepest belief and hope that the blessed Holy Land there will be peace and justice. ”
His Holiness reminded that the Russian Orthodox Church has always consistently stood for peace and justice in the Middle East: “We respect the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, this is consistent with UN resolutions. But it’s very important that was not only achieved political justice, but also that people have learned to live peacefully together in this small, but so dear to us all the space. The Arab people of Palestine are actively moving towards building their own statehood. And we believe that a Palestinian state will be one of the guarantors of peace in this region. ”
It was also noted that, despite the difficult situation, religious communities have free access to holy sites throughout Palestine. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill Mahmoud Abbas pledged the readiness of the Russian Church to continue efforts aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land, and wished him patience.
“I’m truly happy to meet with you in this place for the second time and would be very glad that our follow-up meeting was held in the Holy Land, for example, in Bethlehem or Jerusalem,” – said in response, the Head of the Palestinian National Authority. “We strive to ensure that in the Holy Land to make peace, – said Mahmoud Abbas. – Our goal is to ensure that representatives of the three major world religions to live in security, stability and tranquility, because the war only lead to misfortune and destruction. And I salute your wisdom when I hear your words about the need to maintain patience in order to ultimately achieve this objective.
He said the willingness of the Palestinian National Authority to continue its efforts to facilitate access by pilgrims from Russia and other countries in the world to the holy places of Palestine. “We consider it very important that the pilgrims have the opportunity to become acquainted with itself as the Holy Land, and with the peoples who live in it”, – said Mahmoud Abbas, noting that among the peoples of Russia and supported the Palestinian people have a long history of relations which also participate in religious communities represented in Russia and in Palestine.
“There can be no doubt that the path of negotiations is no alternative. Therefore, we are trying to follow the wisdom of which you spoke … Negotiations – is complex and, unfortunately, to achieve the results needed to overcome many obstacles. However, we keep our hopes and expectations, we keep patience, trying to achieve the necessary result “- testified Head of the Palestinian National Authority. He congratulated the Russian Orthodox Church with the anniversary of his accession to the Moscow Patriarch’s throne, wished health and success in the Patriarchal ministry. “Development of the Church – this is progress, and Orthodox peoples who have been and remain for us to friendly nations”, – thinks the head of the Palestinian National Authority.
The sides discussed prospects for peace in the Holy Land and the state of the negotiation process. With both sides were marked destructive effects of any extremist actions that undermine peace efforts. At the conclusion of the meeting the sides exchanged gifts.
DECR Communication Service
Translated Using Google Translate Service
