KIEV, Ukraine, Jun 19, 01 (CWNews.com) - A bishop on the committee preparing for the five-day of Pope John Paul II to Ukraine next week said has said he believes security measures by Ukrainian police are too severe.
Bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradyuk told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that some of the measures were too strict. «In the entire world, law enforcement and security agencies implement their functions to help people meet the Holy Father, but in Ukraine they understand it in a different way,» he said. Among some measures, police have banned the carrying of umbrellas so they are not mistaken for weapons and advised people wear transparent raincoats so they are suspected of carrying concealed weapons.
Authorities have distributed leaflets in the capital Kiev advising residents living along the Pope's route to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and not to look through windows at certain times, local media said. The authorities plan to block major roads in Kiev, where the Pope will spend three days, and in Lviv, the Catholic center of western Ukraine and seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Up to two million people are expected to turn out for the papal visit.
Father Ken Nowakowski, spokesman for the Ukrainian Catholic Churches, both Eastern-rite and Latin-rite, during the Pope's visit, said he believed Bishop Shyrokoradyuk had expressed his personal opinion. «We are absolutely happy to cooperate with the authorities. We understand very clearly that the security service is doing its best,» said Father Nowakowski. «We cannot take risks.»
Some 30,000 police officers, Interior Ministry troops, and police trainees are being deployed for the five-day visit. Officials said the level of security was due to concerns about terrorism and demonstrations. «There are people in the world who pursue the Pope and try to sneak into the countries where he is to organize terrorist acts,» said Deputy Interior Minister Oleksandr Kharlamov. «Therefore we are gathering information from Interpol and cooperating with the Security Service and border guards to block these people from coming to our country.»
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
19. juni 2001