Thessaloniki, 15 May 2024. Meeting of the IAO International Secretariat

Thessaloniki, 15 May 2024. Meeting of the IAO International Secretariat

The Spring Meeting of the International Secretariat of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) held in the School of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Auth), on 15th May 20204. Parliamentary delegations from Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Greece and Romania took part in the meeting. Present were the President of the IAO General Assembly, Mr. Eugeniusz Chykwin, former Member of Parliament of Poland, and the IAO Advisor, Dr. Kostas Mygdalis.

In the framework of the work of the statutory body of the inter-parliamentary institution, the IAO Secretary General, dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, presented the overview of past activities from November 2023 until today.

In addition, the Chairman of the IAO Founding Act Amendment Committee, head of the Cypriot parliamentary delegation to the IAO, Mr. Panikos Leonidou, presented to the proposed draft of the amended Founding Act. After drafting some amendments, the members of the International Secretariat accepted the text and agreed to submit it to the upcoming General Assembly for its ratification and entry into force.

Thessaloniki, 15 May 2024. Meeting of the IAO International Secretariat

The IAO Treasurer, member of the Greek parliamentary delegation, Mr. Athanasios Davakis presented the financial report for the last six months.

Finally, the planning of future actions focused on the holding of the 31st IAO General Assembly in Palermo, Sicily, on June 27 – July 1, with topic: “Evaluation of the Conclusions of the International Political Conference on Christian Values. The IAO in before new developments”.

The work of the IAO International Secretariat followed by the organization of the International Political Conference with topic: “Politics as an Area for Expressing Christian Values in Everyday Life”, lasted from May 15-17, 2024.

Thessaloniki, 15 May 2024. Meeting of the IAO International Secretariat

International Political Conference “Politics as an Area for Expressing Christian Values in Everyday Life”, Thessaloniki, 15 – 17 May 2024

On the occasion of the European Elections in June 2024, the Secretariat of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki and the School of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.), organized an International Political Conference entitled “Politics as an Area for Expressing Christian Values in Everyday Life”, held at the Faculty of Theology of A.U.Th. from 15 to 17 May 2024.

During the Opening Ceremony of the Conference, greeting addresses were presented by the Deputy Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Athanasios Bouras, Dean of the Faculty of Theology of AUTh, Prof. Chrysostomos Stamoulis, His Holiness Philotheos, Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Rector of AUTh Prof. Charalambos Feidas and the Secretary General of Parliament of the Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Abdulrahman Abdullah M Alzaid.

The Opening Ceremony concluded with the signing of the appeal document addressed to the European Institutions on Christian Values by the Heads of the organisations: the IAO Secretary General Dr. Maximos Charakopoulos, the President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, the President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE), His Eminence Bishop Mariano Crociata and the Moderator of the Organization “Together for Europe” Mr. Gerhart Pross.

Thessaloniki, 15 May 2024. Meeting of the IAO International Secretariat

The three-day Conference was attended by parliamentarians from various countries, former Ministers, officials of International Organizations, candidate MEPs, representatives of Churches, representatives of civil society and members of the academic community.

The Conference included roundtables dedicated to the following sessions: I) State/National Interests and Christian Values yesterday and today, II) Promotion of Christian Values in the public field (society and economy), III) Christian Values and ecclesiastical expression, IV) Christian Values and Legislative Activity: An Example of the Field of Education, V) Christian Values and day-to-day political life: Truths, Obstacles, Dependencies, VI) Christian Values in the field of International Politics.

The conclusions of the Conference will be discussed during the 31st IAO General Assembly, which will be held in Palermo, Sicily from 27 June to 1 July 2024. The main topic of the General Assembly is «Evaluation of the conclusions of the International Political Conference on Christian Values. The IAO encounters new facts».


    Videos of the International Political Conference “Politics as an Area for Expressing Christian Values in Everyday Life”, Thessaloniki, 15 – 17 May 2024


photocamera30    Photo gallery. Meeting of the IAO International Secretariat, Thessaloniki, 15 May 2024

Thessaloniki, 15 May 2024. Meeting of the IAO International Secretariat

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