Former Culture Minister Ionut Vulpescu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), currently an MP, has been elected chairman of the General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) at the organisation’s General Assembly meeting in Palermo, Italy.

Romania is thus holding for the first time the chairmanship of the IAO General Assembly, in which important religious and political leaders participate.

Electing Vulpescu to head IAO comes after for over three decades since its foundation in 1993, the organisation was led by Russia or by Russian-speaking persons, according to PSD.

„It is my honour to take over the leadership of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy at such an important moment for our common values and faith. This is a unique opportunity to promote solidarity and inter-parliamentary dialogue based on Christian principles. Together, we will work to strengthen the bonds between nations and inspire confidence among our citizens. I can assure everyone that we will continue to uphold Europe’s Christian values, promote an inclusive and democratic society and protect our religious heritage, regardless of its nature and origins. I want to thank my parliamentary colleagues for their trust and I am committed to fulfilling my responsibilities with devotion,” Vulpescu is quoted as saying in a PSD press statement.

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Inspired by a conference held from 30 June to 4 July 1993 in Chalkidiki on the topic of „Orthodoxy in the New European Reality”, the European Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy was formed by the initiative of the Greek Parliament. Romania is a founding member.

In 2001, groups of parliamentarians from Australia, Asia, Africa and the United States participated in the General Assembly, the organisation was then renamed Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO).

The assembly currently consists of parliamentary committees of 21 countries, mostly from Eastern Europe.

AGERPRES