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[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      March 31, 1999
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

The Church of the Brethren General Board asks the United States to
help stop the bombing in Yugoslavia, commits $40,000 plus material
aid for initial assistance

(Elgin, Ill.) March 31, 1999 -- In an open letter to President
Clinton, Judy Mills Reimer, executive director of the Church of the
Brethren General Board, today asked the United States to help halt
the bombing in Yugoslavia. 

"In the midst of this terrible situation, I am led by the teachings
of the Bible, by the traditions of our church, and by the stark
reality that violence only begets violence, to call on you to stop
the bombing of Yugoslavia," Reimer wrote.

She added, "The intentions of the United States and its allies may
have been noble in seeking to protect the rights of ethnic
Albanians in Kosovo. However, in allowing for only two options --
to condone ethnic cleansing or to seek a military solution -- we
have created a no-win situation where ultimately the very people we
have sought to protect are being further endangered."

Reimer said a return of international peace monitors coupled with
OSCE or United Nations-led negotiations between the Yugoslavian
government and the Kosovo Albanians is what is needed at this time.
In addition, Reimer called for the United States to support voices
for peace within Yugoslavia, while holding leaders from every
quarter responsible for crimes against humanity, and in particular
the crimes of the Milosevic regime against the people of Kosovo. 

"The world desperately needs new and creative approaches to
situations like this, which will doubtless continue to be a part of
our world as we enter the next millennium," Reimer said. "The
United States can take the lead in helping fashion these new
responses to the age-old problems of the human family."

She concluded, "Our denomination will be in prayer for the victims
of the conflict and for the leaders of the nations involved. We
have also begun to provide humanitarian assistance for those
displaced by the conflict. May God grant you the strength and
vision to act for peace in this troubling situation."

Church of the Brethren Response
An initial $40,000 has been pledged toward a Church World Service
appeal by the Church of the Brethren General Board for humanitarian
assistance in Yugoslavia. Contributions to the denomination's
Emergency Disaster Fund can be sent to 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin,
Ill. 60120.

The General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries also
anticipates sending thousands of care kits to refugee centers.
Assembled baby kits, clean-up kits, and health kits can be sent to
the New Windsor Service Center (601 Main Street, New Windsor, MD
21776). For a description of the contents of the kits, contact Jane
Bankert at 410 635-8797. 

The General Board is encouraging Brethren and others to communicate
their concerns about the Yugoslavia situation to the U.S.
government (President Bill Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20500). Some congregations have scheduled prayer
services on Good Friday to pray for those caught up in the crisis. 
Vigils or other forms of protest are encouraged to be carried out
in public places.

BVS in the Balkans
Brethren Volunteer Service has had volunteers in the Balkans since
1992, working toward longer-term solutions to the conflict there. 
Their work has been in the areas of peace and justice, human
rights, youth, and women's organizations.

"NATO attacks are one of the worst things that could have been done
in this situation," according to one current volunteer in the
region. "The bombing campaign has effectively squashed all
opposition to Milosevic within Yugoslavia, escalated the pace of
ethnic cleansing, and caused even opponents of the regime to rally
in support of the Yugoslav government."

According to BVS director Dan McFadden, there are no BVSers in
immediate danger, but the BVS office is monitoring the situation
closely.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL: 

Howard Royer 
staff for Interpretation
Church of the Brethren
800 323-8039 ext. 260