[ALBSA-Info] ANA - Distorted statement

[Agron Alibali]

Conference of European Churches condemns violence
against Orthodox community in Albania   

                        

    PRAGUE (ANA) -- The Central Committee of the
Conferences of European Churches (CEC) has expressed
its concern over the recent "acts of aggression", as
it stated, in Albania against the Orthodox Church
there.

    

    According to press release issued by the CEC
following its meetings in Prague between Sept. 27 and
Oct. 3, ?it is with great anxiety that we have heard
about the series of aggressive acts that have happened
against the Orthodox Church in Albania. Some of these
acts included: the blowing up of a cross-bell tower in
Tzara; the looting of an Orthodox youth camp and
student facilities around the Monastery of St. George
(Aghios Georgios) in Saranda; and the eviction of the
Orthodox community from an old church building in
Permet.?

    

    The CEC added that its committee members shared
their concerns and protests for such violent acts with
Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios,
himself a CEC vice-president.

    

    "We appeal to the Albanian authorities to continue
to respect religious freedom in the country and to
protect all religious communities," the press release
concluded.