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A European deputy urges to remember that the colour of the Council of Europe flag symbolizes the Intercession of the Holy Virgin and its twelve stars - the apostles

Moscow, October 16, Interfax - The vice-president of the European Parliament Mario Mauro spoke of the importance of religious values for shaping a single European expanse. The symbolism of the flag of the European Union reminds of that.

‘We should be deeply convinced that cultural foundations on which we are building politics in Europe are not hypothetical... Some countries attempt to build a society without God. This brings about serious problems,’ Mauro said at Europe at a turning point: confrontation of civilizations or a new dialogue? the international conference in Moscow.

He also remarked that the blue colour of the flag of the Council of Europe symbolizes an Intercession of the Holy Virgin, and twelve stars depicted in a circle remind of the twelve apostles.

According to a European deputy, the main challenges for Europe at present are religious fundamentalism when certain persons ‘justify their own strategy of the conquest of power by God’s will’ on the one hand, and moral relativism on the other.

Mauro cited Italy as an example where several generations of people do not wish to have family and children because they seized to believe and have lost their moral ideals.’

‘However, Europe that does not believe would disappear sooner or later,’ the vice-president of the European Parliament is convinced.

He said that genuine dialogue among cultures and civilizations ‘cannot be just a search for compromise, but should presuppose responsibility.’

‘As Plato wrote in his dialogue Feast, real friends are those who see God while looking into each others’ eyes,’ he added.

Mauro is convinced in the necessity of deepening the dialogue and versatile ties between Europe and Russia.

‘Europe’s way without Russia is impossible. Europe needs Russia as its large component that may bring its particular contribution into European economic, political and cultural processes,’ he said.

According to him, cooperation with Russia is ‘the only political prospect of Europe.’ Members of the European society ‘could develop this process with more success should they believe that we have common ideals’ with Russia.

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