MDA: Holy See Agrees to Suspension of 15 September As Day of Rest

Bratislava, 18 October (TASR) - The Holy See has agreed to temporarily scrap the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on 15 September which will be suspended as a day of rest next year, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department told TASR on Saturday, adding that Vatican confirmed this in a diplomatic note through the Apostolic Nunciature in Slovakia. "The decision to temporarily cancel 15 September as a public holiday is the result of the difficult consolidation measures required by the current economic situation. It is not a decision we took lightly, but we took it as part of government's responsible approach," said Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), pointing out that the ministry had conducted a series of diplomatic notes and consultations with the Holy See on the matter. Blanar further stressed that the whole process was a standard framework of international communication, by which Slovakia ensured that the government's proposal was consulted in advance and formally approved by the Holy See. "Above all, Slovakia respects the principles of international law and the treaty obligations to which it subscribes as a sovereign and responsible state. Even in the case of the temporary cancellation of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we've acted strictly in accordance with the provisions of the basic treaty with the Holy See and the rules of international law," added Slovakia's chief diplomat. am