The Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Elijah II issued a statement on the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. The head of the Georgian Church said his country also had this bitter experience and called for world peace.
In particular, his statement said:
“Based on Georgia’s bitter experience, we know how important the country’s territorial integrity is. That is why we are watching the tense situation in Ukraine with pain. We note that yesterday’s and today’s events are a serious threat of bloodshed, although there is still room for regulation. It is also an opportunity to preserve world peace. We ask the Holy Trinity to bring peace to the people of Ukraine and to the whole world. May the God of peace be with everyone! Amen! ”
Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. Similarly, Russian troops entered Georgian territory under the pretext of supporting separatist areas in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and then continued to enter western and central Georgia. The victims of the war are several thousand and the refugees – 160 thousand.
Police in Russia have detained more than 1,000 people during demonstrations yesterday in a number of cities across the country. This was announced by the ATS-Info organization, which monitors the arrests of people in Russia for political reasons, Reuters reported.
In the early hours of the day, Russia’s armed forces launched a large-scale combat operation by land, sea and air against Ukraine. Protests against these Russian actions have taken place in 47 cities in Russia. More than half of those arrested in Russia today were detained during a demonstration in Pushkin Square in central Moscow, adds AFP.
Russian authorities today promised to take action against all unauthorized protests in the country against the war in Ukraine, AFP reported.
The Interior Ministry, the prosecutor’s office and the investigation have warned Russians not to hold protests.
The Investigative Committee stressed that participants in clashes or rallies related to the “tense foreign policy situation” could be the subject of criminal prosecution. “We remind you that appeals to participate and the very participation in such unauthorized actions lead to severe legal consequences,” the warning reads.
The prosecutor’s office, for its part, said it had issued warnings to those urging them to take part in protests against the war in Ukraine.
The interior ministry warned that such gatherings would be unauthorized and police “will take all necessary measures to ensure public order”.
Social media accounts have called for anti-war protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg tonight.
Protests against Russian actions in Ukraine have taken place in various parts of the world, from Berlin and Paris to Warsaw and Istanbul, AFP reports. There were protests in Beirut, Tokyo, in Australian cities, the agency said, adding that there had also been a demonstration in Sofia in which hundreds of protesters had gathered in front of the Russian embassy, according to the French news agency.
Pope Francis visited the Russian embassy in the Holy See yesterday to express his concerns about the invasion of Ukraine to the ambassador of Moscow, Reuters reported. This is an unprecedented deviation from diplomatic protocol, the agency notes.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope had spent about 30 minutes at an embassy near the Vatican.
“He went to express his concerns about the war,” Bruni told Reuters, but did not comment on whether the Holy Father had offered to mediate with the Vatican.
In fact, for the first time a pope goes to an embassy to talk to an ambassador during a conflict. The Vatican’s secretary of state usually summons foreign envoys or they meet with the pope at the Apostolic Palace.
In an interview with Reuters on February 14, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Vatican said Kiev was open to the Holy See’s mediation in the conflict.
Meanwhile, the Vatican’s press service said Pope Francis had been forced to cancel a trip to Florence for Ash Wednesday. The Holy Father, who is 84 years old, suffers from sciatica – a neurological disease that causes pain in the legs.
Pope Francis says his heart aches over the situation in Ukraine and announces a “Day of Fasting for Peace” on Ash Wednesday as announced by Vatican News staff reporter.
Speaking at the end of the General Audience, Pope Francis invited everyone to make 2 March, Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting for Peace.
“I encourage believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war,” he said.
In relation to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Caliph, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has said:
“For many years, I have warned the major powers of the world that they must heed the lessons from history, particularly in relation to the two catastrophic and devastating world wars that took place in the 20th Century. In this regard, in the past, I have written letters to the leaders of various nations urging them to set aside their national and vested interests in order to prioritise the peace and security of the world by adopting true justice at all levels of society. Most regrettably, now a war in Ukraine has started and so the situation has become extremely grave and precarious. Furthermore, it has the potential to escalate even further depending on the next steps of the Russian government and the response of NATO and the major powers. Unquestionably, the consequences of any escalation will be horrific and destructive in the extreme. And so, it is the critical need of the hour that every possible effort is made to avoid further warfare and violence. There is still time for the world to step back from the brink of disaster and so, for the sake of humanity, I urge Russia, NATO and all major powers to concentrate all their efforts on seeking to de-escalate the conflict and working towards a peaceful solution through diplomacy.
As the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I can only draw the attention of the world’s political leaders towards prioritising the peace of the world and setting aside their national interests and enmities for the sake of the wellbeing of all mankind. Thus, it is my sincere prayer that the world’s leaders act with sense and wisdom and strive for the betterment of humanity.
I pray that the world leaders strive earnestly to safeguard and protect mankind, both today and in the future, from the torment of warfare, bloodshed and destruction. And so, from the depths of my heart, I pray that the leaders of the major powers and their governments do not take steps that will serve to destroy the future of our children and next generations. Rather, their every effort and motivation should be to ensure that we bequeath to those that follow us a world of peace and prosperity.
I pray that the world’s leaders pay heed to the need of the hour and value, above all else, their obligation to ensure the peace and stability of the world. May Allah the Almighty protect all innocent and defenceless people and may true and lasting peace in the world prevail. Ameen.”
MIRZA MASROOR AHMAD Khalifatul Masih V
HEAD OF THE WORLDWIDE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
February 24, 2022 – Press Release, www.pressahmadiyya.com
According to the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, approximately 250 to 500,000 people of Bulgarian origin or with Bulgarian identity live in Ukraine.
They are in several districts in Ukraine – Bessarabia, Odessa region, Zaporozhye region, Tavria. According to the last official census in 2001, almost 130,000 people with Bulgarian roots live in Bessarabia alone (or over 20% of the total population there).
“Panic and long queues in front of ATMs and grocery stores.” This is how Ivan Onchev described to bTV the situation in the city of Zaporozhye, which is close to some of the attacked areas. “We cannot contact the Bulgarian embassy. We call them, but they don’t pick up. I am not against my son living in Bulgaria, this is our ethnic homeland. I want him and my wife to be safe, “says Ivan. He worries that the evacuation may be delayed because his child does not have a passport.
At the same time, our compatriot Ivan Deyanov says that he is already waiting for instructions on how to leave Ukraine.
Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that citizens with Bulgarian passports are currently being evacuated as a matter of priority. After that, help will be provided for the others.
The first Ukrainian citizens have already crossed the borders of our country.
Bulgaria is ready to take in between 2,000 and 4,000 Ukrainian citizens.
In Burgas, refugees from Ukraine will be received in two crisis centers, as well as in the municipal hotel base. The capacity of the bases is about 100 people.
At the same time, the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) expresses its sympathy and sympathy for the citizens of Ukraine for the difficult situation in which they find themselves.
“We hope the situation will end as soon as possible and without human casualties,” said BHRA Chairman Georgi Shterev.
A road sign is surrounded by flood waters as a farm is pictured in the background in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)
Romanian Patriarch Daniel called for an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine, calling them “a war started by Russia against a sovereign and independent state”.
The patriarch stressed that the Romanian Church led by him shares the position of “other important institutions of Romania and the European Union.” In conclusion, Patriarch Daniel prayed for “the protection of the Ukrainian people and the peacemaking wisdom of all responsible political leaders.”
Here is the full text of the application prepared by Dveri:
“The Romanian Orthodox Church, like other important institutions in Romania and the European Union, has marked with the greatest concern the start of the war in Ukraine, a war started by Russia against a sovereign and independent state. We hope that Euro-Atlantic political forces can find a way to a peaceful dialogue for the good of Ukraine and the whole of Europe.
At the same time, we express our full solidarity with the Romanian Orthodox Christians living in Ukraine, as well as our readiness to help them on our own. We pray to the merciful God, Lord of peace, justice and love, to give protection to the Ukrainian people and peacekeeping wisdom to all responsible political leaders. “
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is shocked by the current invasion of the armed forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Republic of Ukraine, he said in a telephone conversation with Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kiev, head of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, expressing his deep sorrow and its support for the Ukrainian people defending their native lands.
The statement said:
“His Holiness condemns this unprovoked attack by Russia against Ukraine, which is an independent and sovereign European state, as well as the brutal violence against its neighbors and especially against civilians.
He prays to the God of Love and Peace to enlighten the leadership of the Russian Federation to understand the tragic consequences of its decisions and actions, which could ignite even a world war.
The Ecumenical Patriarch calls on the leaders of all countries of the European institutions and international organizations to work for a peaceful settlement of this critical situation through honest dialogue, which is the only means of resolving every problem and resolving every dispute.
Finally, he called on the local Orthodox Churches, as well as all Christians and every person of good will, to pray incessantly for the Ukrainian people and for the establishment of peace and justice in Ukraine.
While 11 of the Council’s 15 members voted in favour of the text, China India, and the United Arab Emirates abstained.
A ‘no’ vote from any one of the five permanent members of the Council stops action on any measure put before it. The body’s permanent members are: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Security Council’s latest attempt to end the Ukraine crisis caps a week of activity at the United Nations seeking a diplomatic offramp to Russian military action in the country, including near daily press stakeouts by the Secretary-General, three emergency Council sessions, and one meeting of the 193-member General Assembly, which saw speaker after speaker call for de-escalation.
Speaking to journalists after this evening’s Council meeting, Secretary-General António Guterres, stressed that while the United Nations had today not achieved its primary objective to end war, “we must never give up.”
“We must give peace another chance. Soldiers need to return to their barracks. Leaders need to turn to the path of dialogue and peace,” he said.
And despite growing operational challenges, he assured that the UN is scaling up the delivery of life-saving support on both sides of the line of contact.
Dedicated UN coordinator
Against the backdrop of multiplying humanitarian needs, dying civilians and at least 100,000 Ukrainians reportedly fleeing their homes – with many crossing into neighbouring countries, underlining the regional nature of this growing crisis – Mr. Guterres announced the appointment of Amin Awad as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.
A close colleague of Mr. Guterres when he was chief of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, Mr. Awad will lead the coordination of all UN efforts, including its humanitarian response, on both sides of the contact line.
“All concerned in this conflict must respect international humanitarian law and guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UN staff and other humanitarians. Especially in a moment like this, it is important to remember that the UN…is tens of thousands of women and men around the world,” he said.
Overcoming challenges
The top UN official outlined the work of the Organization, from feeding the hungry, vaccinating children and promoting development to protecting civilians in peacekeeping operations, mediating conflicts and supporting refugees and migrants, all while “standing, delivering, extending a lifeline of hope.’”
He stressed that although the UN Charter has been challenged in the past, it has “stood firm on the side of peace, security, development, justice, international law and human rights”.
“Time after time, when the international community has rallied together in solidarity, those values have prevailed. They will prevail, independently of what happened today,” the UN chief said.
“We must do everything in our power so that they prevail in Ukraine but they prevail for all humanity,” concluded the Secretary-General.
A ‘principled stand’
Introducing the draft resolution, which her country had helped craft, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield painted a picture of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that was “so bold, so brazen,” that it threatens the international system “as we know it.”
“We have a solemn responsibility not to look away,” she said stressing that Russia must be held accountable, and its forces immediately, completely and unconditionally withdrawn.
“Today we are taking a principled stand in this Council,” Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said. “There is no middle ground,” responsible States do not invade their neighbours.
Can’t veto accountability
After the text was defeated, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield took the floor again.
“You can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices; You cannot veto the truth; You cannot veto our principles; You cannot veto the Ukrainian people; cannot veto the UN Charter…and you will not veto accountability,” she underscored.
The US Ambassador said that despite the actions of a “reckless, irresponsible” Member State, the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.
UN Photo/Mark Garten
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine.
‘Naked aggression’
UK Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward described how women and children in Kyiv, pensioners in Odessa and people all over Ukraine are “sheltering from Russia’s onslaught.”
She stated that the draft resolution sent “a message to the world that the rules we built together must be defended, because otherwise, who will be next.”
Moreover, President Vladimir Putin’s “massive invasion” of Ukraine to remove the Government is “a naked aggression” that must be condemned, Ms. Woodward added.
After the vote, the UK Ambassador pointed out that Russia was the only Council Member to vote against the draft.
“Make no mistake, Russia is isolated, it has no support for the invasion of Ukraine,” she said, noting that history would record what had happened today, and that the United Kingdom “stands firmly in support” of the Ukrainian people and would hold Russia accountable for its actions.
A veto against international law
After voting in favour of the resolution, France’s Ambassador, Nicolas de Rivière, said that Russia’s “premediated aggression” is killing civilians and destroying infrastructure with goal of rebuilding the Russian empire.
While other members expressed their commitment to international law, Russia vetoed it.
“Russia is alone,” he observed, adding that “within the UN and in all bodies, France will continue to mobilize with its partners to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
Abstentions
Indian Ambassador T. S. Tirumurti, who abstained, said that “dialogue is the only path forward,” no matter how daunting it might seem, and urged the Council to restore the difficult path forward.
Also abstaining, UAE Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh said that now that the resolution has been vetoed, the United Arab Emirates would continue to seek “inclusive and consultative processes” for a path forward.
Not an outpost
Meanwhile, as the only Permanent Council member to abstain, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun warned against actions that might “shut the door” to a negotiated settlement. He reminded that the Ukraine crisis did not occur “overnight” and that the security of one State cannot come at the expense of that of others.
“Ukraine should become a bridge between East and West, not an outpost,” he said, adding that that cold war mentalities must be abandoned to build balanced European mechanisms and all parties should return to diplomacy.
‘Ukrainian chessboard’
Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said that he would not respond to those who had accused him of abusing his country’s veto power.
He accused the draft’s sponsors of “spinning tales” about the true situation in Ukraine, including Western allies’ attempts to cover up the fact that they had been flooding the Donbas with weapons.
“You have made Ukraine a pawn in your own game… this resolution is nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move on this Ukrainian chessboard,” he said.
Speaking to the representatives of France, the UK and US, he said that there was no verifiable confirmation about the death of Ukrainian civilians; that photographs of supposed Russian artillery “is fake”; and that reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure were untrue.
Moreover, with its history of aggressions against other countries, the United States was “in no position to moralize.”
‘A seat in Hell’
Ukraine Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya asserted that he would not dignify the “diabolical script” read by the Russian Ambassador, which was in fact “a rather detailed application for… a seat in Hell.”
He recalled that during the Security Council’s discussions on the situation in Ukraine earlier in the week, Russia had begun bombing his country and sending forces across the border, including through Belarus.
Therefore, he was not surprised that Russia voted against the text, he said, denouncing the actions of “the Kremlin regime.”
Mr. Kyslytsya asked the Council to remember how many times the Russian Ambassador said that his country would not invade or bomb Ukraine. But after what had happened in recent days, “how can we trust you? You have no idea what is in the mind of your President,” he declared.
The Ukraine Ambassador also noted that according to the rules of procedure, the Russian Ambassador should not have been presiding over a meeting of which his country was the subject.
Security Council Meets on Current Situation in Ukraine – UN Photo/Evan Schneider
Silent moment for peace
The Ukraine Ambassador asked the Council to dedicate a moment of silence “for peace… and to pray for the souls of those that have already been or may be killed”, inviting the Russian Ambassador to “pray for salvation.”
This was followed by solemn applause throughout the Chamber.
Noting that nothing could justify the bombing of hospitals and kindergartens –considered war crimes under the Rome Statute – he said that Ukraine was collecting evidence to send forward to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Sever ties
Finally, Mr. Kyslytsya called on nations to break off diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation, and international organizations to sever ties with that country.
“You should stop wiping your feet” on the words of the Secretary-General and the work of the UN, and “show respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter,” he said.
In closing, the Ambassador maintained that while Ukraine remained open to negotiations, it was Russia that had launched an offensive that had sent “thousands of troops” into its territory.
epa09778128 Pope Francis arrives to lead the weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall, in Vatican City, 23 February 2022. EPA/MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI (MaxPPP TagID: epalivesix023556.jpg) [Photo via MaxPPP]
Pope Francis posted a message on Twitter on Friday 25 February in which he denounced the fact that “any war is a shameful capitulation”. A tweet translated into several languages, including Russian.
“War is always a failure,” writes the pope “Every war leaves the world worse than when it was found. War is always a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful capitulation, a rout before the forces of evil,” wrote the Pope, taking up a passage from his encyclical on peace Fratelli tutti (All brothers) published in 2020.
His tweets, also published in the usual languages of his account (Italian, Portuguese, Polish, French, English, Spanish, German and Arabic), are accompanied by the hashtags #PrionsEnsemble and #Ukraine.
Francis also went Friday morning to the Russian embassy near the Holy See to express “his concern” on the second day of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. A gesture also exceptional for the Argentine pontiff who never goes to foreign representations but receives in the Apostolic Palace the diplomats accredited to the Vatican.
The pontiff, who had called Wednesday to “preserve the world from the madness of war”, stayed “a little more than half an hour on site”, added the same source.
On Thursday, a few hours after the attack of Ukraine by the troops of Moscow, the Vatican had estimated that negotiations were still possible to find a peaceful solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The pontiff, who had called Wednesday to “preserve the world from the madness of war”, stayed “a little more than half an hour on site”, added the same source.
On Thursday, a few hours after the attack of Ukraine by the troops of Moscow, the Vatican had estimated that negotiations were still possible to find a peaceful solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
“I have great pain in my heart at the worsening of the situation in Ukraine. Despite the diplomatic efforts of recent weeks, more and more alarming scenarios are opening up. Like me, many people feel anguish and concern,” he said.
Stratford children’s author Jon-Erik Lappano is getting ready to release his fourth picture book, Martin and the River, on March 1.
Stratford children’s author Jon-Erik Lappano will release his latest picture book, Martin and the River, on March 1. Front cover illustration by Josée Bisaillon
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Just in time for spring, award-winning Stratford children’s author Jon-Erik Lappano is set to release his fourth picture book, which draws on his experiences growing up alongside the Upper Thames River and its wildlife in Mitchell.
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In Martin and the River, Martin loves his river. He watches the great blue herons, he looks for crayfish and otters, and he builds forts and lies in the tall grass near the water. But one day, Martin’s parents tell him they have to move from the country to city.
While exploring his new home, Martin finds the that none of the city’s charms, from the museum to the subway, can compare to his river. However, when his parents bring him to a little stream running through a nearby park, Martin discovers much of that same magic can indeed be found in the city.
“It’s inspired by my childhood growing up in Mitchell, just close to Stratford here, and spending countless hours biking down to the Upper Thames River where I used to look for minnows and spot great blue herons and that sort of stuff,” Lappano said.
“That time in nature was really pivotal for me in my childhood, and I think it really shaped who I am as an adult. I also spent a lot of my time in urban centres and living in the City of Toronto, so the book really explores the notion that we can find connection to nature in any place that we live.”
Through his first three children’s books – the first of which, Tokyo Digs a Garden, won the Governor General’s Literary Award – Lappano’s stories have largely been centred around the natural environment and seeing the natural world through a child’s eyes.
“All of my books taken together certainly have an environmental theme to them, and I don’t know that it’s a conscious thing, but I think it’s the way I sort of interpret the world,” Lappano said. “Since I was young, I always found meaning and connection in natural spaces. I think it’s how I’ve embedded meaning in my life and it’s where I search for meaning. I’ve also got a natural curiosity and wonder for the world around me … and because of that, my stories reflect that theme.”
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Like his previous books, Martin and the River is accompanied by colourful and whimsical illustrations. While Lappano has worked with a few different illustrators in the past, the artwork in this book is by Montreal artist Josée Bisaillon, who has illustrated more than 40 picture books, including The Snow Knows by Jennifer McGrath, which won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award.
“The illustrations in this book are spectacular,” Lappano said. “(It’s) the colour, the light and just everything that she does to bring this story alive. I think one of the things I was most grateful for in working with Josée was her ability to bring this sense of childlike imagination onto the page. So much of the story takes place in Martin’s imagination and just him projecting his imagination onto the world around him, and she capture that so beautifully.”
Martin and the River will be available for purchase on March 1 at Fanfare Books and Fundamentals Books and Toys Inc. in Stratford, as well as through most online book sellers.
