Vatican
City, 6 December 2013
(VIS) - Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with
States, spoke at the 20th gathering of the Council of
Ministers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) that concluded today in Kiev, Ukraine. That country currently
holds the Organization's chairmanship.
The
archbishop spoke about the various areas of action that OSCE
participated in during the past year, referring with appreciation to
how the Organization's political-military dimension has successfully
updated its document on the non-proliferation of weapons. In spite of
this result, the Holy See expresses its concern for the lack of
progress in the actualization of the Vienna Document, which “is
essential for ensuring a greater transparency as regards the
activities and military outfitting of the participant States, and
which is a prerequisite for the region's stability and security.”
As
concerns the economic-environmental dimension, the prelate encouraged
the Organization to “a greater political will and a greater
commitment, similar to that seen in the other dimensions”. He
reasserted the Holy See's interest in safeguarding creation and its
appreciation for the emphasis that the Ukrainian chairmanship has
given the Organization's activities related to energy conservation
and the sources of renewable energy.
Another
topic touched upon was that of migration. “According to the Holy
See,” the archbishop said, “migrants' rights must be of primary
consideration. Even at times of financial crisis, migrants must not
be considered merely in terms of their economic role as a temporary
work force or as permanent residents. Their dignity as humans must
have precedence over any other consideration.” In this context he
also condemned “the persistent problem of human trafficking. It is
a hateful crime that must be fought with all legal means available.”
In
the sphere of the Organization's “human” dimension and of freedom
of thought, conscience, and religion, Archbishop Mamberti affirmed
that it was disturbing to observe that, seventeen centuries after the
Edict of Milan established religious toleration within the Roman
Empire, “in the OSCE region that are ever more numerous acts
against Christians motivated by prejudice. When we speak of the
denial of religious freedom and of intolerance, particularly against
Christians, we immediately think of certain countries outside of the
OSCE region or in its vicinity. We must not forget that there are
episodes of intolerance and marginalization against religion and
believers even in traditionally democratic societies where,
fortunately, there is not violent persecution.”
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