wfn.org | Kosovo

[Sheila MESA <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
10 March 1998

CHURCH LEADERS URGED TO CONTRIBUTE TO NEGOTIATED SOLUTION
TO KOSOVO VIOLENCE

Reacting to the "unfolding tragic events in Kosovo", a joint letter from the
general secretaries of three church organisations - the Conference of
European Churches (CEC), the World Council of Churches (WCC) and
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) -  appeals to church leaders in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to do all they can to stop the violence and
to ensure that the "identities and history" of all the ethnic and religious
groups in the province are respected.

The text of the letter sent on 10 March to their member churches in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by Rev. Dr Keith Clements of CEC, Rev.
Dr Konrad Raiser of the WCC and Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko of the LWF
follows:

"Dear Brothers in Christ,

We write to you on behalf of our respective church organizations to
express our profound concern and solidarity with all those caught up in
the unfolding tragic events in Kosovo.

Our organizations appeal to the leadership and members of the churches
in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to do everything possible to
contribute to a peaceful and negotiated solution to the civil violence in the
province of Kosovo.

It is of utmost concern to Christians and churches everywhere that a
repetition of the violent conflict experienced in Bosnia in recent years
must be avoided. Everything must be done to overcome the confrontation
and to avoid a further spread of this conflict to neighbouring countries. 

In order for a just and lasting solution to be negotiated, all parties must
refrain from acts of violence and intimidation. We therefore share the
condemnation by His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox
Church and his representatives of the use of 
police violence against unarmed student and civilian populations in
Kosovo, and we denounce the grave violation of human rights
witnessed in the region.

Furthermore, we recognize and share the concern that the identities and
history of all ethnic and religious groups in the province be respected.
We strongly support the efforts of people of all communities in Kosovo
and elsewhere which seek a peaceful and negotiated solution to the
present crisis, and which will allow a just and free coexistence for all.
We join with the Patriarch in appealing that all peoples may live together
as human beings according to Divine justice in this country. 

We are urging the international ecumenical community to be prepared to
offer any humanitarian and other assistance to the victims, the uprooted
and those vulnerable groups most affected by the conflict, through
ACT-Action by Churches Together, the emergency coordinating office
based in WCC and LWF. 

It is our hope and prayer that no effort will be spared to allow people to
return again to a life of dignity and mutual respect."

**********
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.

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