wfn.org | Positive Developments for Religious Liberty in Uzbekistan

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

December 31, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Positive Developments for Religious Liberty in Uzbekistan
[98/38/02]

Navoii, Uzbekistan [ANN/APD] After reporting restrictions of 
religious liberty in Uzbekistan with the refusal to register the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Navoii and other incidents, 
ANN/APD have learned that the direct intervention of the 
country's president has produced positive developments in the 
situation.

According to Victor Krushenitsky, Public Affairs and Religious 
Liberty director for the Adventist Church in the area, President 
Karimov visited Navoii in November, "after which some 
changes were made in the leadership of the city and the 
region."

"On November 24, after seven months of waiting for a 
response, the Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders were 
invited to a meeting at the Mayor's office," reports 
Krushenitsky. "All required papers were signed and admitted 
for processing an official registration for the Adventist Church 
in Navoii."

In a speech to those attending the meeting, the Mayor spoke 
of the need for spiritual growth in the city's population. He 
also told the Adventist delegates that they needed to proceed 
quickly with their plans for a health centre and soup kitchen, 
saying that "all the plans will be a great support to the city. 
Start working on the completion of your building right now as 
we want it to be occupied no later than May, 1999."

The local Adventist congregation ascribes the dramatic change 
in the situation to divine intervention. The following week, so 
many people came to the Church that the hall could not 
accommodate everyone, reports Krushenitsky.