A unique chance

Presidency of Russia in the Council of Europe is the chance for Russian Catholics finally to be heard and to be well understood in Europe. When the last Friday Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov held a post of the chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Russia became a head of this oldest organization of the Old World for the first time during the 10 years of its membership. This year Russia also presides in another key international structure – the Group of Eight. The post of the chairman has been entrusted to Russia for a half of a year. Sergey Lavrov promised to lead 46 countries to the united Europe without any barriers during these months. For this period almost 30 events are planned. Among them there are the discussions of eternal problems of rights and freedom, long-awaited discussions about the simplification of the non-visas regime, solution of drug traffic and terrorism. “Our country, – said S. Lavrov, – is not going to abuse its rights as a chairman, we will be responsible and will crave for working to amass the Council of Europe on solution on the concrete tasks according to its mandate”. THE CATHOLIC MINORITY. Two very important events are expected to happen in 2006 in religious life of Russia: In July the World Summit of religious leaders will be held. The invitation to the Vatican has been already sent and we hope that among the delegates appointed by the Pope catholic bishops from Russia will present.In October in our country (in Saint Petersburg) for the first time during all the history the Plenary Assembly of CCEE will take place.What does it mean for Russian Catholic believers?Firstly, it means more attention to our position and our problems from not only Catholic Churches but also from the governments of European countries. Traditionally it is used to consider Russia the Orthodox country so it is natural that the main attention of the European society is usually turned to the Russian Orthodox Church. In the year of the presidency we hope that the questions connected with the rights of the Russian Catholics to the spiritual service and valuable spiritual practice would be solved according to the international regulations. Above all it refers the unimpeded obtaining long term visas for the foreign priests, because they present more than 80 % of the clergy in Russia. We hope the government of the country-chairman will be more attentive to the problems of religious minority.Secondly, we hope in the support of European community in our aspiration for being accepted as equitable member for- Interreligious Council of Russia (Catholics and protestants are not in this organization, they are nit invited to participate in this public structure in which only Orthodox, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists sit, – Public Chamber of the President of Russian Federation to which Catholics are not invited unlike the representatives of other confessions.Thirdly, we hope for the improvement of orthodox-catholic dialogue in Russia. The period of Russian presidency in the Council of Europe has to be the time of the readiness of our society for the productive experience of orthodox-catholic relations cumulated in other European countries, especially in the context of the recent visit to Rome and the meeting with Benedict XVI of the head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.RIGHTS, HARSH DISCUSSION. What the political sphere is concern it is not less significant for the catholic believers than for other Russian citizens. Let me mention that among the ratification documents which S. Lavrov took to Strasburg there was the Convention of the resistance to the terrorism. Russian parliament was the first ratified this document. It is well-known that formally Russian laws correspond to the all rules of lawful state. However the law enforcement practice shoul be much more better and we would like to turn the attention of the European community to this problem.The Presidency of Russia in the Council of Europe gives us more opportunities to influence the positive perception of Russia and at the same time creates more causes for western politicians to criticize Russia. As the experts await the discussion about the rights and democracy will be more harsh.The head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia S. Lavrov assured the Council of Europe that Russia intends “to secure the proper succession and normal acting of the organization. Russia will not realize any revolutionary programs – said Lavrov.”The role of such country as Russia in the European life is impossible to underestimate, – said to ITAR-TASS agency the secretary of the Council of Europe Terry Davis. – This country makes the more important contribution to the progress achievement on the European continent”.