CONCLUSIONSWITH SUBJECT: “SECURITY WITH FREEDOM” | 11th Assembly

 

The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, having listened to the reports presented by the expert research scientists on the central subject of this year’s General Assembly, to the viewpoints by a lot of its members, extensively discussed the main subject and reached the following conclusions:

Today, the danger of terrorism acquires a supranational character and no country in the world is absolutely secure from the extremists’ attacks. The countries with a history of Orthodox Christian tradition, as well as, the civilized world decisively condemn terrorism, considering it a crime against humanity and a main threat to security and freedom of man’s personality and to the harmonious function worldwide. It is self-evident that the world community only with joint and coordinated actions will be able to fight effectively against this evil.

In this case, the role of legislators of each country is crucial. The importance of their work for creating a relative legislative framework for combating off terrorism and all of its methods and expressions, which should be strictly limited by legislation, is self-evident.

The participants of the Assembly confirm that the elaboration of common approaches will constitute an important step for the encouragement of mutual understanding and reciprocal relation between its members.

Nevertheless, a substantial step against terrorism and the elimination of political and social conflicts is the close cooperation of Church and state, which is the source of life and strives towards the perfection of man. The development of the legislative system and the perfection of the governmental repressive measures cannot guarantee for security and combating terrorism, if the will of society to live according to the rules of justice and morality, are not expressed. In this case, the contribution of the Church maybe viewed positively.

The participants of the Assembly confirm their will to contribute to more close and creative relationships between Church and state in their countries, which may constitute a significant step towards mutual respect, as well as, a mutual trust relationship and cooperation between countries, in order to ensure national security based on the fundamental legislative principles, created by the national community against terrorism. The ideological and spiritual power of Orthodoxy may be able to convert and become the source of unity and cooperation, which has nourished the countries of eastern Christian tradition for thousands of years.

In order for the fight against international terrorism to become really effective, it is essential for the international community to reject the practice of counter measures and overcome on each case, the stereotypes, which have been consolidated for assessing terrorism in various regions of the world.

Opposing to international terrorism, the international community owed to engage into the most drastic efforts for the extirpation of the deeper causes of this phenomenon, such as: the enormous gap existing and still remaining in the modern world between the super-rich and the poor, the racial, national and religious extremism, the impertinent violation of the publicly acceptable rules of international law.

The issue on upgrading the interparliamentary dialogue is opportune, aiming at a complete advance of the counter-terrorist activity and especially the activity the I.A.O has to develop in this area. It is essential to elaborate upon a proposal in order for the Assembly to formulate a strategy, which will meet new challenges and threats against security in the 21 st century.

We should develop an effective and secure international legal system, which will cope with terrorism in all its forms. This will become the substantial contribution of the parliaments participating in the I.A.O, in the world community’s struggle against international terrorism, for the insurance of life and security in our planet.

Participants agree that it is essential to jointly approach and shape a uniform attitude regarding the contribution of the Orthodox Church as an important social guarantee of the regional as well as the universal security.

Kiev , 26 June 2004