wfn.org | Iraq-Algeria

[Miriam REIDY PROST <mr@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
19 February 1998

WCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REJECTS MILITARY ACTION OVER IRAQ;
ALSO COMMENTS ON ALGERIA

The World Council of Churches' (WCC) Executive Committee has today
(Thursday) warned that military action to force Iraq to comply with UN
Security Council demands will result in large-scale casualities and
increased suffering by the Iraqi people.

In a separate message on Algeria, the committee expresses its "sincere
sympathy and compassion in this time of pain and trial" and calls on the
international community not to isolate the country but to support those
Algerians who reject violence and engage in work to strengthen
democracy.

On Iraq, the Executive Committee, meeting in Geneva, spoke out after
receiving the report of a recent WCC visit to the country.   The report
said present sanctions had not achieved their original purpose but had
rather harmed large sectors of the population who now lacked everyday
essentials.

The Executive Committee endorsed the team's call for churches to press
governments to oppose military action which, in any event, should not
take place without further Security Council consideration and agreement.

The committee's statement has been sent to UN Secretary-General, Kofi
Annan, with a letter from the WCC General Secretary, Rev Dr Konrad
Raiser.  On behalf of the Executive Committee, Raiser expresses strong
support for Annan's diplomatic efforts to avoid a new war in the Gulf.

He adds: "The WCC firmly believes it is the United Nations, through the
Security Council, which alone can appropriately take decisions related to
the use of force under Chapter VII of the Charter, and not any individual
power or groups of powers acting unilaterally under these provisions."

Earlier this week Dr Annan asked for prayers for himself as he prepared
to go to Iraq.  In his letter, Dr Raiser says, "Be assured of our full support
and of our constant prayers as you undertake this present mission.  May
the God who wills peace and justice for all guide and strengthen you as
you seek to cause reason to prevail."

The Executive Committee's views are contained in the following
resolution:

"With respect to the present threats of military action, the Executive
Committee:

expresses its grave concern at the present massive military build-up in
the Gulf region by the armed forces of the United States of America,
supported by the UK and some other nations which participated in
"Operation Desert Storm" in 1991;

warns, yet again, that renewed military action will result in large-scale
casualties and increased suffering by the Iraqi people;

calls on the churches to press their governments to oppose military
action to force Iraq s further compliance with the UN Security Council
demands;

further calls on the churches to respond to the appeals of the churches
in Iraq to join them in prayers for a non-violent resolution of the present
crisis and to work for justice and lasting peace in the region;

welcomes and supports the present diplomatic efforts to resolve the
stand-off  between Iraq and the United States over the issue of
unrestricted access for UNSCOM inspection teams. 

urges that this matter be brought again to the Security Council, and that
no further military steps be taken without its concurrence.

With respect to the application of sanctions against Iraq, the Executive
Committee: 

recalls and reaffirms the WCC s criteria for determining the applicability
and effectiveness of sanctions;

considers that the application of sanctions in Iraq fails to meet these
criteria which state, inter alia, that "The good achieved by sanctions must
not be exceeded by the harm that can reasonably be anticipated;" 

further considers that these sanctions have resulted in serious violations
of the human rights of Iraqi population by denying them the rights to
adequate food, clothing, housing, medical care, education, social
services and employment;

deplores the lack of openness and transparency in the decision-making
procedures of the Sanctions Committee, particularly with respect to its
role in approving contracts for the import of humanitarian goods into Iraq;

and, convinced that the present sanctions regime has a punitive
character and reveals a tendency for political considerations to take
precedence over objective evaluation of facts,  

appeals to the UN Security Council to undertake a thorough review of the
sanctions regime on Iraq, taking into account their impact on the civilian
population, and with a view to defining clear and agreed goals with a
specific time frame and benchmarks for the full lifting  of sanctions;

calls upon the churches to continue their efforts to provide generous
relief and humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq."

Contact: Clement John +41.22.791.62.18 (Office); +41.22.788.05.43
(Home)
              Salpy Eskidjian +41.22.791.62.05 (Office); +41.22.788.22.02
(Home)

A copy of the full statement is available in English. We hope to have the
report (about 70 pages long) of the delegation available in English from
late Friday.

On Algeria this is the text of the message:

"The Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches, meeting in
Geneva, 17-20 February 1998, deeply saddened by the violence in
Algeria which has claimed a terrible toll of human lives, assures the
people of this beloved land of its sincere sympathy and compassion in
this time of pain and trial.

The ecumenical movement stood alongside you during your struggle for
independence, seeking to minister to the victims of violence and those
displaced by the war.  It remained with you as you laboured to recover
from the effects of war and violence, to rebuild your land, and to lay the
foundations for peace and prosperity for all the people.  It rejoiced in the
enlightened leadership you provided the international community in the
global struggle for development, self-determination for colonized peoples,
for economic justice and for peace.

Now, once again, we mourn with you those who have fallen victim to
violence and horrifying acts of inhumanity.  At the same time we give
thanks to God for those among you who embody hope in the midst of
tragedy, who resist terror and labor for peace against all odds.  We are
moved by those whose faith has led them to perform courageous acts of
mercy.
	
We are aware that the troubles of this moment have deep historical
roots, and complex causes.  Religious sentiments, at times exaggerated,
are only one factor.  Economic, political, and cultural elements also
combine to divide people, leading to a breakdown in dialogue and
democratic processes, to social isolation and extremism.  Confrontational
approaches, either at home or abroad, are more likely to exacerbate
tensions than to encourage forces of moderation and restoration of
dialogue.

This is not a time to isolate Algeria or its people.  The international
community needs the discernment that only Algerians themselves can
offer.  During these painful years, Algerians who reject violence have
engaged in dialogue and joined to strengthen democracy and respect for
human rights.  We hope that the nations will open their arms to you,
accompany you, and seek to provide free spaces for such dialogue both
in Algeria and abroad.
 
We have often felt powerless to help you, but we have never ceased
praying that God will lead you out of this valley of death and despair.  We
remain with you, and offer ourselves to you in the cause of overcoming
violence and sustaining the hope for a better future given by God.

May the God of mercy and of peace sustain you in these days".

Contact: GeneviŠve Jacques +41.22.791.62.07(Office);
+33.4.50.41.18.40 (Home)

The WCC Executive Committee has 27 members including the 7 WCC
Presidents, the Moderator of the Central Committee, H.H. Aram I, and the
General Secretary. It normally meets twice a year.

The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 330, 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, Netherlands.  Its staff is
headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church
in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Press and Information Office
Tel:  (41.22) 791.61.52/51
Fax:  (41.22) 798 13 46
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