Δημοσιεύτηκε: Φεβρουάριος 03. 2011 12:52
Η Α.Μ. ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Κύπρου κ.κ. Χρυσόστομος έλαβε την πιο κάτω απαντητική επιστολή του Γενικού Γραμματέα του Παγκοσμίου Συμβουλίου Εκκλησιών Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, ως και σχετικές κοινοποιήσεις δύο επιστολών τούτου, η μία προς τον Ύπατο Αρμοστή των Ηνωμένων Εθνών για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα, και η άλλη προς τον Ειδικό Εισηγητή για τις Θρησκευτικές Ελευθερίες και Πεποιθήσεις στο Συμβούλιο Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων των Ηνωμένων Εθνών, αντίστοιχα.
Παρατίθενται στη συνέχεια αυτούσιες οι εν λόγω επιστολές:
1. «H.B. Archbishop of Cyprus
Chrysostomos II
Church of Cyprus
Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus
P.O. Box 21130
Nicosia 1502
Cyprus
Geneva, January 28, 2011
Your Beatitude,
Following your letter on the deplorable events that took place on Christmas day in Rizokarpaso, I have attached the letter sent by the World Council of Churches to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Navanethem Pillay and to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Mr Heiner Bielefeldt.
We strongly denounce these actions as we believe that they constitute a flagrant violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights, mainly the right to freedom of religion and belief as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in many other International human rights instruments. The World Council of Churches will never cease to defend religious freedom and stand by those victims who are being persecuted for reasons of their religious beliefs. We believe that, as the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General Secretary».
2. «Mr. Heiner Bielefeldt Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
United Nations Human Rights Council
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, January 28, 2011
Your Excellency,
The World Council of Churches would like to express its deepest concern and indignation concerning the events that took place on Christmas day in the village of Rizokarpaso, in the area of the Republic of Cyprus under the control of Turkish troops and administered by Turkish Cypriot authorities. Turkish Cypriot police entered the Church of Saint Sinesios and demanded that the worship activities cease. Following this they forced the congregation out and sealed the church. Their argument was that the local Turkish Cypriot authorities had not granted the congregation permission for the service, an accusation that the Church of Cyprus strongly denies. It should be noted that the church is one of seven religious sites in the area which is governed by a special status under which religious services can be performed on a regular basis without receiving advanced permission. Furthermore, the local Turkish Cypriot authorities refused to give permission for the performance of the Holy Service to the Gialousa Saint Trinity Church (Agia Triada) in occupied Karpasia.
We strongly denounce these actions as we believe that they constitute a flagrant violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights, mainly the right to freedom of religion and belief, as guaranteed in a number of international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights as well as the Third Vienna Agreement of 1975, concerning among others the safeguard of the right to education and religious freedom of the enclaved Greek Cypriots, living in the northern occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus.
One of the main elements of religious freedom is the right to be able to manifest one’s religion or belief in practice and worship. Such actions, as those that occurred on Christmas day, are in direct offence to the core elements of the right to religious freedom and a worrying sign of religious intolerance which can only hamper efforts to bring peace to the divided island. As the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Having full confidence in the work of the United Nations for the respect, protection and promotion of human rights around the world, we urge you, your Excellency, to use your good offices to ensure that the human rights, especially freedom of religion and belief of the enclaved Greek-Cypriots, are fully respected by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General Secretary».
3. «H.E. Ms Navanethem Pillay
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10
Fax no: 41-22 917 9034
DGeneva, January 28, 2011
Your Excellency,
The World Council of Churches would like to express its deepest concern and indignation concerning the events that took place on Christmas day in the village of Rizokarpaso, in the area of the Republic of Cyprus under the control of Turkish troops and administered by Turkish Cypriot authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot police entered the Church of Saint Sinesios and demanded that the worship activities cease. Following this they forced the congregation out and sealed the church. Their argument was that the local Turkish Cypriot authorities had not granted the congregation permission for the service, an accusation that the Church of Cyprus strongly denies. It should be noted that the church is one of seven religious sites in the area which is governed by a special status under which religious services can be performed on a regular basis without receiving advanced permission. Furthermore, the local Turkish Cypriot authorities refused to give permission for the performance of the Holy Service to the Gialousa Saint Trinity Church (Agia Triada) in occupied Karpasia.
We strongly denounce these actions as we believe that they constitute a flagrant violation of fundamental freedoms and human rights, mainly the right to freedom of religion and belief, as guaranteed in a number of international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights as well as the Third Vienna Agreement of 1975, concerning among others the safeguard of the right to education and religious freedom of the enclaved Greek Cypriots, living in the northern occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus.
One of the main elements of religious freedom is the right to be able to manifest one’s religion or belief in practice and worship. Such actions, as those that occurred on Christmas day, are in direct offence to the core elements of the right to religious freedom and a worrying sign of religious intolerance which can only hamper efforts to bring peace to the divided island. As the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family are the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Having full confidence in the work of the United Nations for the respect, protection and promotion of human rights around the world, we urge you, your Excellency, to use your good offices to ensure that the human rights, especially freedom of religion and belief of the enclaved Greek-Cypriots, are fully respected by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
Yours sincerely,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General Secretary».
Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Κύπρου,
3 Φεβρουαρίου 2011.
