Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy visited the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska

The delegation of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, headed by Secretary-General Maximos Charakopoulos, visited today the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, and their hosts were the Vice-Presidents of the National Assembly, Petko Rankic and Anja Ljubojevic.

At the meeting, attended by the representatives of the deputy clubs and groups of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska and parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the readiness for strengthening cooperation and parliamentary ties were highlighted, to preserve and promote Christian Orthodoxy values.

Vice-President Rankic in the name of the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, Dr Nenad Stevandic thanked the delegations of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Ortodoxy on the visit, stressing that the highest legislative body in the Republic of Srpska decisively advocates for strengthening ties, exchanging experiences and long-lasting cooperation with this interparliamentary body.

“Only by mutual efforts can we contribute to the promotion of orthodoxy values and the defense of the orthodoxy people our faith, culture, and identity in the region, Europe and the World, and respecting all other peoples and religions”, said Rankic, pointing out that Orthodoxy is facing numerous problems and challenges in the contemporary world.  

"The messages of our guests give us hope and encouragement for further work, and open up space for us to strengthen future cooperation and friendly ties important for the positioning of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska in the European family of parliaments, which recognizes traditional values," said Rankic.

The General Secretary of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy, Maksimos Characopoulos, pointed out that the goal is to unite Orthodox parliamentarians in one body in order to protect Orthodox Christian values, Orthodox holy places, the language and culture of Orthodox peoples, who are faced with numerous challenges in the region, Europe and the world.

"I am grateful to the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska and the Orthodox deputies in the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina for their sincere support of our work. We share Orthodox values ​​with the Orthodox Serbs in the Republic of Srpska and BiH and other Orthodox nations. Still, together we seek solutions to the issues that are bothering us," said Characopulos.

The Vice-President of the Hellenic Parliament stressed that Greece will support the strengthening of democracy, and parliamentarism and making the European path much sooner.  

“The role of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy is very important in strengthening our brotherly and friendship relations and we look forward to future cooperation.