Annual session of Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy officially opens in Romania, first-time presidency holder

 The official opening ceremony of the annual session of the General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) took place on Tuesday, at the Palace of Parliament, marking the first time in the history of the organization that Romania holds its presidency, through MP Ioan Vulpescu.The event, now in its 32nd edition, enjoyed special importance, marking 140 years since the recognition of the autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church and 100 years since its elevation to the rank of Patriarchate. The central theme of the meeting - "Cooperation of parliamentary and religious institutions in developing directions for the use of artificial intelligence: the significance of the IPU meeting in Marrakesh" - reflects current concerns regarding the balance between technological innovation and spiritual values.The meeting is attended by parliamentary delegations from 15 states, offering a unique platform for international dialogue on the challenges and opportunities brought by technological development and artificial intelligence, in harmony with European cultural and spiritual values. Delegations from the Republic of Moldova, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Jordan, North Macedonia and Serbia are present in Bucharest.The President of the IAO General Assembly, PSD deputy Ioan Vulpescu, highlighted the importance of the role of giving a world divided by the increasingly viral war a model of peace, recalling that this year marks 1,700 years since the first Ecumenical Council."I carry in my heart the joy of presiding over the General Assembly of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy on Romanian soil. For this part of the continent, Orthodoxy has been an eternal social contract, the only one that has worked even when political agreements have ceased to do so. People have remained together because the name of God is hope, they have cried out together "Christ is Risen" because only in this way is love for our neighbor uplifting and can establish the origin of the social virtues that we need so much in times of geo-political conflicts. (...) We have the duty to follow the model of Emperor Constantine the Great, as politicians, as parliamentarians, in various dignities and missions we must invite the world of religions to dialogue, because only the universe of faith can give citizens the hope and humanity they need to live together, overcoming hostility and making way for a hospitality that becomes not an educational reflex, but a civilizational process", emphasized Ioan Vulpescu.Romania is a country that is historically part of world civilization, emphasized the Secretary General of IAO, Maximos Charakopoulos."This state belonged to the Greco-Roman space, which allowed it to receive the Christian message earlier. Orthodoxy and Greco-Roman influence had a great influence on the development of the Romanian people", emphasized the Greek official, who highlighted the need to preserve these values.The opening of the meeting was attended by political figures, cultural and academic figures, representatives of public institutions and religious leaders from several states, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Bucharest. Former President Emil Constantinescu was also present.   (Photo:https://basilica.ro/)