The Christian Churches and the Balkan questionPeace and stability in the Western Balkans was the first issue addressed during the meeting held February 19 in Lubiana between the EU’s Slovenian presidency and a delegation of European Churches. The delegation was represented by Msgr. Noël Treanor, Secretary General of Comece (Bishop Conferences Commission of the European Union); Rüdiger Noll, director of the Cec/Kek (Conference of European Churches) Commission “Church and society”; bishop Geza Emisa and Alesander Kercmar representing Slovenia’s evangelical Lutheran Church along with Msgr. Anton Stres and reverend Andrej Saje for Slovenia’s Catholic bishops conference. The delegation was received by Slovenia’s Prime Minister and President of the EU Council Janez Jansa. Following Kosovo’s proclamation of independence, Church representatives voiced their commitment “for the establishment of reconciliation and peace” in the region and underlined “the need for the EU to be prepared to the full adhesion of the Western Balkan States”, and “to ensure, through the defense and security EU mission, that human rights are fully implemented in Kosovo and throughout the entire region, especially as relates to minorities”. This, they pointed out, “also includes “protection and free access to holy places”. The Church delegation highlighted the need “for the full and ongoing commitment of religious communities in intercultural dialogue”, in particular in view of “the European Year 2008”. As relates to the definition of parameters regarding Turkey’s future adhesion, the Churches reiterated that “the EU demand full implementation of freedom of worship in the Country and legal status recognition to religious communities”. The Churches view “social coherence and an adequate protection” of weaker brackets as basic requirements for Lisbon’s Strategy implementation, remarked Msgr. Treanor and Rüdiger Noll, referring to the revision of the European social agenda. Lastly, as concerns migration and asylum, the EU presidency requested to “reduce provisional custody for illegal immigrants”, and grant “long-lasting solutions to Iraqi refugees”. Religious leaders and EU institution presidents are scheduled to meet again in May. After Sibiu and dialogue with IslamThe meeting of the joint Ccee-Kek Committee is currently under way in London (until February 24), the first “summit” meeting after Sibiu. One of the main topics is the assessment of the assembly (Aee3) and its perspectives. “If in general terms we acknowledge that the assembly significantly contributed to ecumenical development, open questions remain, and one of these – said Thierry Bonaventura, Aee3 secretary- is a greater cooperation between Ccee and Kek, planning new ways of undertaking ecumenical dialogue after Sibiu”. Debates focused also on the challenges placed to ecumenism by the different ethical views, and how to put into practice the recommendations of the final message of the assembly; the relations with Muslims in Europe and the major current topics pertaining to Community institutions”. A proposal was made regarding the creation of “a single European Ccee-Kek ecumenical body” for a “long-term vision of ecumenism” as declared by Kek President Jean-Arnold de Clermont. On the agenda figures also the visit to the St. Ethelburga Centre for Reconciliation and Peace along with the prayer in St. Paul’s Anglican cathedral. Participants will be received by Westminster’s Catholic archbishop, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, and by London’s Anglican bishop Richard Chartres. The works will be attended by seven Kek members (President de Clermont, reformed; Anastasios di Tirana, Orthodox; Margarethe Isberg and Almut Bretschneider-Felzmann, Lutheran; Richard Chartres, Anglican; Gennadios of Sassima and Alexandru Gherasim, orthodox) and by seven Ccee members: cardinal Péter Erdö; vicepresident Cardinals Jean-Pierre Ricard, and Josip Bozanic; bishops Stanislav Hocevar (Belgrade), Vincenzo Paglia (Terni) Virgil Bercea (Oradea, Romania) and Noël Treanor (Comece).A vade mecum for mixed marriagesPreparing engaged couples and accompanying the spouses: a pastoral vade mecum for mixed marriages in Europe and the Pauline Year in Turkey. These are topics addressed during the eighth Meeting of the Presidents of the Bishops Conferences of South-East Europe to be held February 28 – March 2 in Sophia (Bulgaria). Seven Bishops Conferences are represented: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, the St. Cyril and St. Methodius International Bishops Conference (Serbia, Macedonia e Montenegro) and Turkey. The gathering, promoted by Ccee , will be hosted by Msgr. Christo Proykov, apostolic exarch of Sophia and President of Bulgaria’s bishops. Also Kalin Yanakiev, from the Orthodox Church and the Great Mufti of Muslims in Bulgaria are expected to deliver their speeches.
