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Liberated cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk herald victory of peace over war – AUCCRO appeal

03.11.2016, 11:46
Liberated cities of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk herald victory of peace over war – AUCCRO appeal - фото 1
All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appealed to all people affected by the war, living in the ‘gray zone’ and the zone of combat action assuring that they are willing to help them heal wounds and give the opportunity to feel themselves worthy citizens.

All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appealed to all people affected by the war, living in the ‘gray zone’ and the zone of combat action assuring that they are willing to help them heal wounds and give the opportunity to feel themselves worthy citizens.

2016.11.02ua.jpg-sss.jpgThe religious leaders also called on Ukrainians to continue praying for peace in the country and urged the international community to do all possible to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

This was stated in the message by AUCCRO on establishment of peace and progress of Ukrainian society, issued on November 2 at a visiting session of AUCCRO in Kramatorsk.

 

We submit the full text of the document:

“All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations invites all the faithful to continue to pray for peace and prosperity in Ukraine. We urge all persons involved in inciting armed conflict in eastern Ukraine to seek understanding and desire for peace, the cessation of artificial exacerbation of hatred by spreading false propaganda and information manipulation. We call for taking weapons who took her hands illegally, and those who came to the Ukrainian land with criminal and aggressive intentions.

The war destroys and devastates, bringing only pain and suffering. The terrible events of recent years in Donbas should encourage all to think about the value of every human life, which should not be at stake in geopolitical ambitions of any state and its own selfish purposes. All of society and each citizen individually - whether a politician or religious leader, or a media worker – have to nurture social peace and harmony, to prevent their statements in the language of hatred, to seek ways of reconciliation through dialogue and mutual forgiveness.

We appeal to people living in a combat zone and whom we visited,  the people affected by war, the people in the occupied territories and in the ‘gray zone’, to the survivors of the occupation and liberation, and feel his duty to tell you and assure you that we are the ones who want to serve you so that you feel worthy citizens and be taken care of and offered help. We're here to serve sincerely to heal the wounds inflicted by this war.

We again appeal to the international community to do all possible to preserve the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders of Ukraine, including the Ukrainian Crimea and Donbas. The current system of global security based on respect for international law and the sovereignty of each state, so these fundamental principles should be respected also in relation to Ukraine. After all this time in eastern Ukraine, one can still observe unacceptable violation of human rights, capture and torture of hostages, religiously motivated persecution and harassment of religious minorities, which should be finally ceased and be reflected in the reports of the Special monitoring mission of the OSCE.

Religion should not be used as a tool for inciting hatred and artificial escalation of the conflict and be a source of peace, understanding and love. As heads of churches and religious organizations, we appeal to our believers to their respective each example showed desire for peace and mutual forgiveness, showed respect for people of other faiths.

The rise of spiritual values ​​in society is vital for Ukraine and is the condition of fundamental positive change. We call every citizen and every family for spiritual renewal that will become the basis for the recovery of the nation as a whole, building a strong moral foundation, defeating corruption and other human temptations.

All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appreciates the ministry of Ukrainian defenders – soldiers and military chaplains and volunteers in Eastern Ukraine. Today, pastoral care, moral support and practical social assistance are more than ever needed by personnel and their families, as well as many residents of Donbas, whose peace safety are secured by Ukrainian defenders.

Charity and mutual aid of citizens are capable to further consolidate Ukrainian society, strengthen the social and cultural identity of the multinational people of Ukraine.

We believe that establishing a broad social dialogue and cooperation between the authorities and the public in an effort to implement necessary changes and respect of fundamental rights will promote peace, unity and help in the nation’s surmounting out of the economic and political crisis, carrying out essential reforms.

While in Kramatorsk, we remember that this is a Ukrainian city, as Slovyansk with its suburbs, these are areas of our country that were occupied and consequently liberated. They are heralding the victory of peace over war, truth over falsehood and good over evil.

We are praying to Almighty God for peace for the entire Ukrainian people!”