Russian envoy receives top Church honor

7/2/2012

BELGRADE — Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin has received the highest honor given by the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC).

SPC Patriarch Irinej presented the Order of St. Sava 1st Class to the diplomat in a ceremony in Belgrade on Monday.

The Church said the honor was given as sign of gratitude for Konuzin’s support to the Serb people, especially in Kosovo.

The support, said the patriarch, was given both through statements “which have resonated outside Serbia as well” and through humanitarian work “where it was most needed”.

“It is an honor to express today on behalf of the Church what the SPC has for centuries felt for our brotherly people of Russia, the leaders of Slavs,” Irinej said.

“I see this award as confirmation of our common understanding of a high level of wide-ranging relations of Russia and Serbia, two sister Orthodox churches, and brotherly peoples of our countries,” Konuzin said, thanking the SPC for their appreciation of his work.

He pointed out Russia and Serbia have reached the highest level of cooperation in many different spheres and that the partner level of political dialogue affords them the opportunity to look to the future with confidence.

This is an election year in both countries. But there is a mutual understanding that bilateral relations will continue to strengthen, Konuzin said, noting Russia is interested in a stable, prosperous and independent Serbia, which will command great respect around the world.

Our relations are developing successfully in the areas of culture, education, science and technology, and in other spheres, said the Russian ambassador, noting, however, that there are some problems and expressing concern over information that Russian language instruction is losing ground in Serbian schools.

The ceremony at the Patriarchate was held in the presence of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Krkobabić, Minister of Education Žarko Obradović, opposition Serb Progressive Party leader Tomislav Nikolić, opposition Democratic Party of Serbia leader Vojislav Koštunica, opposition Serb Radical Party deputy leader Dragan Todorović, and numerous church dignitaries.

Snaps:

Source: