Brussels, 19/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - In a joint declaration published in Brussels, the Serb Orthodox Church and the Commission of Episcopates of the EU (COMECE) note that the poorest people in Yugoslavia, mainly among the refugees, have gravely suffered in both physical and mental terms. They have mainly been the victims of economic sanctions imposed by the governments, they continued, adding that they believe sanctions should be lifted. They therefore appeal to all governments concerned, and go on to say that the economic sanctions represent one of the obstacles to a new departure in the cooperation of Serbia and Yugoslavia with neighbouring countries.
This declaration follows a three-day visit (from 13 to 17 July) by a delegation of EU catholic bishops to Serbia. The delegation, which was headed by Mgr Josef Homeyer, Bishop of Hildesheim (Germany) and President of COMECE, was received by the head of the Serb Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle Stojcevicle. He met the members of the Saint Synod, the highest body of the Serb church. They also envisaged organising a meeting for next summer, in Serbia, among young people of several countries.