08/12/2008
To the Participants of the Second European Russian Forum «European Union and Russia: New Challenges»
On December 8 the second European Russian Forum “European Union – Russia: new challenges” took place in Brussels. On the eve of the forum the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II sent his letter to the participants. This letter dated December 3, 2008 is one of the last documents signed by the Patriarch who left this world on December 5, 2008.
Unofficial translation
Let me most heartily greet all the participants of the European Russian Forum who came here to European Parliament to discuss this important subject: «European Union and Russia: New Challenges”.
History tells us that the relations between Russia and other European countries have been different: with some countries we had close brotherly links, with others we sometimes had conflicts. But this being said, our nations have always shared the understanding of the importance to respect each other’s cultural identity and historic memory, to trust each other and bear responsibility for the future of our descendants. Russian people have played a great part in defeating Nazism that tried to conquer whole nations and in restoring what had been destroyed by the World War II. We have always been united in our wish to prevent all kinds of conflicts in Europe and in the world, trying to fulfill what was commanded to us by God: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5, 9).
Today, the long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual help are yet again being put to test. Certain political forces are trying to create artificial obstacles to good-neighbourly dialogue among our nations, are striving to prevent us from joining together our forces to address the problems of our common European home. It is especially sad that these obstacles are being made through information channels that have a great impact on the views of common people.
I am convinced that today the European Union and Russia should be looking for the common ground that unites them into an integrated civilization space. We need to remember that our peoples have in common their Christian heritage, from which originate the concepts of human dignity, human rights and freedom. This is why European-Russian relations have a prospect for fruitful development and for bringing together the positions on issues that are significant for every person who is not indifferent to the future of our countries.
I wish to all participants of the second European Russian Forum God’s help and success in addressing their objectives, and may God’s blessing be with you.
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia