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Rights bodies condemn remarks by OSCE secretary general apparently supporting removal of head of Armenian Church
CSI, ACPR, FOREF Europe and Helsinki Committee call on OSCE to reaffirm commitment to protecting religious liberty in Armenia. ZURICH / YEREVAN — Christian Solidarity International (CSI) has joined Armenian and European human rights groups in condemning comments by OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu apparently offering support to the Armenian government to remove Karekin II, the Catholicos…
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Figel: If EU Doesn’t Seek Peace Talks in Ukraine, It May Be Drawn into Conflict
Bratislava, 2 July (TASR) – The European Union (EU) appears to have lost interest in supporting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine while continuing to finance and support Ukraine, said former Slovak EU commissioner Jan Figel in an interview with TASR TV. With these two factors combined, he said, there’s a risk that the EU’s…
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To save Ukraine, we need a new Europe
Recent rhetoric suggests a slight but notable shift in Russia‘s attitude toward ending the war in Ukraine. In remarks following Russia’s Victory Day parade, Vladimir Putin stated that ‘the matter is coming to an end’. Even in its opacity, the comment signals a potential recalibration in Moscow’s approach and an implicit recognition that the time…
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Holy See Reaffirms Its Commitment to Religious Freedom in Letter to FOREF Europe President
The Holy See has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the promotion and defence of religious freedom in a letter from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, addressed to Dr. Ján Figeľ, President of FOREF Europe. Responding to Dr. Figeľ’s letters of 31 January 2026, Cardinal Parolin expressed his appreciation for the…
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Ján Figeľ: Religious freedom is a litmus test of all human rights
Freedom of religion or belief is important for all people, believers and non-believers, according to Ján Figeľ. The former European Commission Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion outside the European Union stressed the strong nexus between religious liberty and human dignity in a keynote speech to the annual conference of Christian Solidarity International…
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“Europe is not just a bunch of traders, nor a market place without spirit and beauty” an interview with Ján Figeľ
In Budapest, we had the pleasure of speaking with Ján Figeľ, former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and European Commissioner. Today, he is the Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the EU. Mr. Figel, a long career as Slovak Deputy Prime Minister, Party leader, Chief Negotiator of Slovakia with…
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Beyond the war in Ukraine
Europe once transformed a continent of war into a continent of peace. Today, that achievement is under strain. As the war in Ukraine drags on with no clear end in sight, Europe and the wider Euro-Atlantic community face a decisive question: Will the conflict continue to escalate, or can political imagination once again open a path toward peace? Wars are…
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The Long Road to Peace in Ukraine
Europe once transformed a continent of war into a community of peace. What lessons can that experience offer for ending the war in Ukraine? Why Europe Must Rediscover the Political Imagination of Peace Wars are far easier to begin than to end. This is one of the oldest and most tragic lessons of human history.…
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Realism’s Path to Peace: Beyond the War in Ukraine
Possible scenarios and hope for Europe It is logical and painfully visible that to start was is always easier and faster that to end it. Internal and international war on Ukraine, Gaza, Iran and the whole Middle East confirm this. War itself does not bring new benefits, but suffering, destruction and instability. Despite growing unrest…