wfn.org | WCC seeks to maintain momentum of negotiations on the Cyprus problem

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Update 03-12
For Immediate Use
27 March 2003

WCC seeks to maintain momentum of negotiations on the Cyprus problem

Cf. Press Update UP-03-05, 21 February 2003 

A desire to learn more about the aspirations of Cyprus' Greek and Turkish
communities, including the Church of Cyprus - in order to build on peace
negotiations - is the reason for a planned 31 March - 3 April visit there by
a World Council of Churches (WCC) staff delegation. 

As the two sides failed to reach agreement under the Comprehensive Settlement
of the Cyprus Problem put forward by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, the
visit will help the WCC give guidance to the global ecumenical fellowship as
it continues to accompany the peace process. 

The WCC delegation will meet with members of the Holy Synod of the Church of
Cyprus, Greek and Turkish Cypriot political leaders, United Nations (UN) and
European Union representatives, and members of civil society.

A February 2003 statement on Cyprus by the WCC executive committee noted
encouraging developments in the political and civil society spheres.
Highlighting this hope, WCC Commission of the Churches on International
Affairs director Peter Weiderud noted that "While one important negotiation
deadline has passed, there are still strong signs of progress and momentum,
particularly in civil society, towards resolving the Cyprus problem. With the
peace plan still on the table, we need to work together on the best ways to
maintain this momentum to achieve a peaceful and just settlement."  

The WCC delegation includes Weiderud and International Affairs programme
executive Salpy Eskdijian. Meetings are planned with HE Mr Demetrius
Christofias, president of the House of Representatives, other key government
officials and political party leaders, as well as with UN special
representative to Cyprus HE Mr Zbigniew Wlosowicz, and the head of the
Delegation of the European Commission to Cyprus HE Ambassador Adriaan Van Der
Meer. 

The WCC executive committee statement on Cyprus can be found at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/exco03-cyprus.html 

For interviews in Cyprus, the WCC staff delegation can be reached through the
office of External Relations, Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus, 
tel:+357 22 55 4 600.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office,
tel: +41 (0)22 791 64 21 / 61 53

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in
1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Media Relations Office
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E-mail: media@wcc-coe.org 
Web: www.wcc-coe.org 

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