"LET’S RESPECT THE MEASURES AND CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY"
On December 30, 2020, in the "Club of MPs" in Skopje, a working meeting was held with the heads of the churches and religious communities mentioned in the Constitution, which was attended by the Director of the Commission for Relations with Religious Communities and Groups (CRRCG) Mr. Darijan Sotirovski, Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia Mr. Mr. Stefan, Reisul Ulema of the IRC h. hfz. Shaqir ef. Fetai, the Bishop of Skopje and Bishop of Strumica-Skopje Monsignor Kiro Stojanov and the superintendent of EMC Mr. Marjan Dimov. Due to objective reasons, the President of JCRM, Ms. Berta Romano Nikolic, was absent.
Given the upcoming period, religious leaders unanimously appeal to citizens to adhere to all measures for coronavirus protection prescribed by health authorities, not to lose patience, because in anticipation of immunization the responsibility for controlling the virus in each of us is at the highest level. To celebrate responsibly, to be in the family circle and to avoid gatherings, except when necessary, but with consistent respect for the obligation to maintain a distance and wear a protective mask.
At the meeting, the attendees reviewed the results of the research conducted by the Commission for Relations with Religious Communities on public opinion among the young population and exchanged views on it. Religious leaders agree to form a friendship group in the next period between young future religious clerks, priests and imams in order to establish an environment for their timely acquaintance and cooperation, which is especially important for our multi-confessional society.
The religious leaders at the meeting exchanged opinions on the reforms in primary education and unanimously requested from the competent Ministry of Education an involvement of churches and religious communities in the public discussion on the proposed amendments to the law in order to preserve and promote the subject of Ethics in religions and protection of the rights of the teachers who teach it, but also enabling the children an education in the crucial scientific disciplines by avoiding solutions that according to our social values would be unappropriate.
Religious leaders also exchanged views on the draft Law on Protection and Prevention of Violence against Women and the draft Law on Property Taxes, for which in order to improve the legal regulation they will constructively contribute with suggestions to the competent proposers.