26 January 2013 Zagreb, Croatia [Dragutin Matak, tedNEWS] The Religious Freedom Day in Croatia, organized by the Religious Freedom Association in the Republic of Croatia, was celebrated at the hotel “Four Points” Sheraton in Zagreb. More than hundred and fifty participants were present, including senior representatives of religious communities and embassies as well as the Croatian Government. All of them praised and affirmed human and religious freedom as a fundamental right which is the most essential component of human dignity.
At the beginning, a letter of congratulation and commendation from the President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovi? was read out, followed by a moving speech delivered by mufti dr. Aziz ef. Hasanovi? delivered, the head of the Islamic Community in Croatia, appreciating religious liberty in Croatia. The representatives of the American and Russian embassies, Mr. Scott Lang and Mr. Dmitry Zykov, warmly greeted the assembly extending their best wishes for the Religious Freedom Day. They expressed their readiness to cooperate with the Croatian Religious liberty Association in promoting religious liberty.
On this occasion awards were given to two persons, musician Ladislav Il?i? and prof. Aleksa Bjelis, Ph.D rector of the University of Zagreb for opening the Jewish and Evangelical faculties there. Two Educational institutions were also honored with awards, the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zagreb and the University of Applied Science VERN for helping the Adventist students to have free Sabbaths during their studies. The award to Faculty of Philosophy was given to its academic dean prof. Damir Boras, Ph.D., and the award to VERN was handed to Mr. Branko Štefanovi?, the chair of the Board of Trustees.
Prof. Aleksa Bjelis, Ph.D. gave a much appreciated speech on Academic and Religious Freedom in Croatia.
Dragutin Matak PhD, the secretary of the Croatian Association, closed the ceremony with a quote from E. G. White: ‘The greatest need of the world is the need of men, men who will not be bought or sold, men whose conscience is as true to duty and freedom as the needle to the pole.’ (Ed 57.3) [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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