Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs deems unacceptable Russia’s evaluation of the celebration...

31-07-2008

Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs deems unacceptable Russia's evaluation of the celebration of the 1020th Anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus

30.07.2008, [18:08] // Foreign relations // - Kyiv-The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine commented on the information released for the media on 25 July by the Russian Federations' Information and Press Department, which contained an evaluation of recent events in Ukraine. The Ministry's address says that it "is concerned over the report published by the Russian side" containing evaluations that are "not corresponding to the facts, and are too politicized and not objective." According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially "unacceptable and alarming" are the ungrounded accusations from the Russian side of alleged "disrespectful treatment" of "the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) during the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus."
The head of the press service of the ministry, Vasyl Kyrylych, noted that "it is surprising that a foreign policy department in a secular state gives evaluations of the events of a program that were agreed upon in advance, in which were participated by ROC representatives."

The report presents a negative assessment of the fact that "the Russian side evaluated the events, which are commonly accepted as ones falling under the category of internal policy, in a not very politically tactful manner."

"The ministry strongly denounces the evaluations published by the Russian side. We are convinced that the mentioned events in Ukraine were held in strict compliance with the national law and, therefore, should not have a negative influence on the high level of Ukrainian-Russian cooperation," says the report.
http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;23842/