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Russian Orthodox leader expresses concern that Montenegro may join NATO

December 31, 2015

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church received Serbia’s justice minister in audience on December 28 and expressed concern that Montenegro—which became independent from Serbia in 2006—may accept an invitation to join NATO.

“I wholeheartedly wish the Serbian people God’s help, spiritual and physical fortitude, and wisdom for preserving the sovereignty of our fraternal Serbia,” said Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. “We worry about the events in Montenegro as we see that people are against the plans of joining.”

“Russia today is a sovereign state in full measure and uses the sovereignty for its own defense and for defense of its friends,” he added.

 


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  • Posted by: Gregory108 - Jan. 05, 2016 10:07 PM ET USA

    I know these cities were renamed. My only intent using their old names was to show the sort of heroes Russia fosters and their murderous history, especially since their present leader was once a Soviet/Communist KGB agent and still shows every sign of being such. Lots of things were seemingly changed,but though the Russians made a good show of "change," their desire to subjugate and conquer their neighbors, and Putin's desire for the Old Empire has not changed. He's still brutal and dangerous

  • Posted by: Don Vicente - Jan. 02, 2016 11:35 PM ET USA

    Fact check: Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd back in 1961. Leningrad was restored to its original name of St. Petersburg in 1991.

  • Posted by: brownjudith2930 - Jan. 02, 2016 12:55 AM ET USA

    Of course, Putin doesn't want an independent Montenegro. Patriarch Kirill is acting as a spokesman for Putin. The two have an agreement. Putin is going to create his Russian Empire but this time, with the full co-operation of the Russian Orthodox Church (rather than the old Communist tactic of overtly acting against religion. The Russian Orthodox faithful will pay dearly for Kirill's co-operation.

  • Posted by: Gregory108 - Jan. 01, 2016 2:01 PM ET USA

    It'll be the start of WW III only if Putin invades other nations. Considering the West's timidity and pacifism,I think the chances of NATO moving to invade Moscow, Stalingrad or Leningrad,named for Russian heroes who killed innocents, made a mess of the world by invading non-Russian nations/peoples and killed Christians by the millions, is very low! As a KGB agent,Putin is unpredictable and belligerent. He cares not for public opinion. Better to keep up defenses and hope that keeps him "good."

  • Posted by: Minnesota Mary - Dec. 31, 2015 5:13 PM ET USA

    This is one more example of NATO trying to menace Russia and Putin. Bush I promised Gorbachev that if Russia broke up the old Warsaw Pact, NATO would not expand one inch. Since then, look at all the nations NATO has invited in. This is nothing more than an attempt to make an alliance with a nation in hopes of sticking it to Putin. These agreements are precursors to WW III.