Aleksandr Rumak emphasized that the main topic of the meeting was the migrant crisis, the situation with the refugees on the border with Poland and possible support to them.Taking part in the meeting were Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarch Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Archbishop of Minsk and Mogilev of the Roman Catholic Church Jozef Staniewski, Chairman of the Muslim Religious Community in Belarus Mufti Abu-Bekir Shabanovich, Chief Rabbi of the Religious Association of Progressive Judaism Grigory Abramovich.
Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarch Exarch of All Belarus, stressed the need to support refugees who fled their homeland in the hope of a better future. They faced new difficulties and found themselves deprived of the opportunity to live under the shelter, to eat normally - in general, normal human conditions. “It is important that everyone help these people and that the question of their future fate be resolved,” he said.
Archbishop Jozef Staniewski, Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev of the Roman Catholic Church, said: “The church, through its faithful, has for centuries sought to help those in need. Pope Francis calls on all people of good will to unity. The events that are taking place today on the border with Poland show once again that these words of the pontiff are very important, and people should help each other regardless of their nationality and religion. Especially when it comes to children and women who, as in this situation, are in great need of help. May the good God fill the hearts of people with goodness and love for their neighbors.”
Chairman of the Muslim Religious Community in Belarus Mufti Abu-Bekir Shabanovich said he felt deep compassion for those who fled in search of peace and are now stranded on the border with Poland. They are suffering, starving, and now that the cold weather has set in, they are freezing, needing help. Abu-Bekir Shabanovich pointed out that all of the country's denominations are calling for peace, harmony and mercy.
Chief Rabbi of the Religious Association of Progressive Judaism Grigory Abramovich recalled the situation with the Hasids, who at one time could not cross the border, were stuck in the inter-border area. They got assistance from Belarus. Returning to the topic of the current migrant crisis, he said: “This is a general issue of helping all those who need support, and regardless of the confession, the question is what can be done to help people. The main task is not to stay aside.”
The parties held a constructive conversation on the ways to address the crisis and the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border. The parties defined approaches to humanitarian and spiritual assistance to refugees.
