ATHENS, 20 AUGUST 2013. STATEMENT ON THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN ALBANIA, AT THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN PREMETI.
With great indignation, but also deep concern, the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) along with the entire civilized world stands on events that took place in Albania two days ago at the Orthodox Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, in Premeti.
«Private police» (?), uniformed, with great fury and savagery but without the slightest legitimacy, made a number of vandalism, sacrilege, violence, raids and thefts. Watching television, we witnessed, along with the other world, of the unprecedented these scenes.
Such events, overtly and barbarously:
Blocks the Albania’s path towards progress and obscure its international image.
Affects the core of individual rights and freedoms.
Returns Albania and the world at times considered to have passed without refund.
Causes grief and indignation in every civilized man and people.
The I.A.O.:
Denounces these events, no matter where they come from.
Asks for strict punishment of any abettor and any perpetrator.
Requires compensation for all damages and return of illegally misappropriated objects and sacred vessels.
Expresses its sympathy to the victims, to the Orthodox Christian people of Albania and to the venerable Primate of the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church Archbishop Anastasios of Albania.
Invites heads of states, international organizations, and every responsible to intervene.
Statement on the events that took place in Albania, at the Orthodox Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, in Premeti in PDF in DOC