The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, with the purpose of the quick and peaceful resolution of existing internal and external challenges for the normalization of the socio-political situation in Ukraine:
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Emphasizes once again its commitment to the legal and peaceful regulation of the situation in Ukraine and confirms the principles stated in Statement of Church leaders and Religious Organizations to all faithful and to all people of good will due to the socio-political situation in Ukraine of December 10, 2013; in Statement of Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on the occasion of Reunion Day and Freedom Day in Ukraine of January 22, 2014; in Communique of the emergency session of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations of January 22, 2014; in the Declaration of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations after a meeting with the President and the opposition of January 25, 2014; in Declaration of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations after meeting with the leaders of the Ukrainian Parliament of February 26, 2014; and in Declaration of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations on the Occasion of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of March 1, 2014.
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The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appreciates the stabilization of the internal situation in the country and the actions launched by the current government. We appeal to citizens of our nation to defer excess emotionality, and to discharge civil and official obligations in good faith, holding to Ukrainian legislation, and to keep your oath. This is particularly important because of the external danger to the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
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We appeal to the government and population of Ukraine for urgent regulations concerning the usage of weapons. Legal sanctions for infringement of these standards must be applied to each transgressor, regardless of the merits and motivation of obtaining illegal weapons. The matter concerns the clear threat to the highest values: human life and the health and national safety of our Homeland. For those who hear the call and are ready to defend their native land, in accordance with their religious and social convictions, with weapons in their hands, there are legal means of realizing of such noble callings.
We are sure that further actions of the government and citizens, based on all aforementioned principles and on maintaining the fundamental rights of person and citizen, will contribute to national solidarity, to consolidation of constitutional order, to overcoming the crisis of international relations with the Russian Federation, and to the conservation of the territorial integrity of our Native Land – Ukraine.
Presiding Member of the Ukrainian Council of Church and Religious Organizations,
+ Onufriy,
The Metropolitan of Chernivtsi and Bukovyna,
ocum Tenens of the Kyivan Metropolitan cathedra
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Source: http://www.irs.in.ua/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1398%3A1&catid=50%3Azv&Itemid=78&lang=uk
Translated by Karolina Omelchenko, edited by Robin Rohrback
