July 30, 2005

KiM-Info Newsletter 30-07-05

For freedom of religion in FYR Macedonia

Make your own appeal for release of Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid

Dear list-members,

You can also give your contribution to the release of Archbishop Jovan of Ochrid who has been falsely accused by FYR Macedonian state authorities and sentenced to jail.

Archbishop Jovan is "guilty" of freely excercising his constitutionally granted right to keep his Christian beliefs and to live in ecclesiastical unity with all other Orthodox Churches world-wide.

Attempts of FYR Macedonian Government to proclaim an official and world-wide recognized Autonomous Ochrid Archdiocese an illicit sect, just for the benefit of the group of local renegade bishops who are not recognized by anyone in the Orthodox world, is a sad example how Government authorities onesidedly interfere in religious issues and use power in order to violate religious rights of their citizens.

Your letters to FYR Macedonian officials may be a valuable assistance for Archbishop Jovan who is spending his fifth day in prison because of his religious beliefs.

We also kindly ask you to pray for the Archbishop and his Church to courageously withstand the persecution.

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing", Luk 23:24

KIM Info Editors

Contact addresses of FYR Macedonian state officials:

(contacts are provided by official governmental web-sites of FYR Macedonia)

President of the Republic of Macedonia

Branko Crvenkovski

E-mail form:

Prime Minister of Republic of Macedonia:

Dr. Vlado Buckovski

E-mail form: http://www.vlada.mk/english/contact.htm

Minister of Justice: Mrs. Meri Mladenovska-Gjorgjievska

Address: Dimitrie Cupovski no. 9, 1000 Skopje : phone: +389 2 3117-277,
fax: +389 2 3226-975

Web Site: http://www.covekovi-prava.gov.mk

E-mail: webmaster@zic.gov.mk

Minister of Interior: Mr. Ljubomir Mihajlovski

Address: Dimce Mircev BB street., 1000 Skopje ; phone: +389 2 3117-222,
fax: +389 2 3112-468

Web Site: http://www.mvr.gov.mk

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Ilinka Mitreva Ph.D.

Address: Dame Gruev no. 6, 1000 Skopje ; phone: +389 2 3115-266; +389 2 3110-333,
fax: +389 2 3115-790

Web Site: http://www.mnr.gov.mk

Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Washington D.C.

Ambassador Nikola Dmitrov

Telephone:   (202) 337-3063
Fax:   (202) 337-3093
National Holiday:   2 August
Office Hours:   9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
E-Mail:   usoffice@macedonianembassy.org

===================================================================

OTHER ADDRESSES

US Embassy in Skopje, Macedonia

http://skopje.usembassy.gov/

E-mail: AmEmbSkopje@mt.net.mk

Contact:Tel +389 2 311 6180; Fax:+ 389 2311 7103;

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Macedonia

St. Dame Gruev, 8/5 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
PO Box 58,
tel/fax +389 2 3290 469; +389 2 3119 073

E-mail: helkom@mhc.org.mk

Serbian prime minister demands release of Serbian priest jailed in Macedonia

"The jailing of a church dignitary is an unbelievable decision," Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in a statement. "The least and the best decision by the Macedonian authorities would be his release."

Released : Jul 29, 2005 11:14 AM

President Vojislav Kostunica BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro-Serbia's prime minister on Friday demanded the release of a Serbian Orthodox Church priest jailed in Macedonia in a case that has strained relations between the two Balkan nations.

A Macedonian court earlier this month convicted Bishop Jovan of inciting religious hatred by holding services for Serbian Orthodox Church worshippers in Macedonia, and sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in prison. He began serving his prison sentence Tuesday.

The Macedonian authorities have rejected earlier appeals by the Serbian government and the Serbian Orthodox Church to set Jovan free.

The Macedonian Orthodox Church, which is not recognized outside that country, broke from the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1967.

The Serbian church offered to accept the Macedonian community back into its fold in 2002, with some autonomy. The idea was rejected by Macedonia's politicians and the church hierarchy, except for Bishop Jovan.

The priest was subsequently ostracized by Macedonian church authorities and is now officially referred to by his secular name, Zoran Vraniskovski.

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KIM Info-Service is distributing news on Kosovo related issues. The main focus of the Info-Service is the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian community in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija. KIM Info Service works in cooperation with www.serbian-translation.com as well as the Kosovo Daily News (KDN) News List

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