wfn.org | LWF Statement on Military Action in Fight Against Terrorism

["Frank Imhoff" <FRANKI@elca.org>]

Concern about the Purpose of Diplomatic Relations

GENEVA, 8 October 2001 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
regrets that "diplomatic efforts did not open up avenues" that avoid
the use of military action in the response to the September 11
terrorist attacks against the United States of America.

In a statement today, LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko
stresses that the purpose of diplomatic relations in the current
situation "is a higher one" than the building of an alliance for
military action.

Noko calls for the strengthening of the role of diplomacy "in order
to relate directly to the underlying causes of terrorism."

He appeals to the LWF member churches to fulfill their role as
partners for human fellowship and justice in their different regions.

The full text of Dr. Noko's statement follows:

The World at a Critical Time

Statement by Dr. Ishmael Noko
General Secretary, The Lutheran World Federation

Geneva, 8 October, 2001

The United States, supported by allied forces, has now taken military
action as part of its  strategy in the fight against terrorism. It is
to be deeply regretted, however, that diplomatic efforts did not open
up avenues avoiding the use of armed force. Military action must as
soon as possible be superseded by strong, constructive efforts on
other levels. A drawn out military campaign cannot be sustained
without generating a wider conflict, which could easily get out of
hand.

The role of diplomacy must be substantially strengthened in order to
relate directly to the underlying causes of terrorism. It must be
made clear to all that the purpose of diplomatic relations in the
present situation is a higher one than the building of an alliance
for military action. It must contribute in substance to the
rectifying and healing of past injustices, as well as to building
common visions for a better future.

Appropriate humanitarian assistance to the impoverished people of
Afghanistan is given high priority by the international community.
Humanitarian assistance must, however, be supplemented by long range
development aid. In this way it would become clear that such
assistance is more than a way to appease public opinion.

The United States must, henceforth,  play a new and different role in
overcoming the many causes of conflict and terror in the world. The
United States will be expected to exercise its role as a listening
and constructive team-player in multilateral fora, in the continuing
efforts everywhere to seek international consensus and cooperation.

The United Nations must continue to develop further into what it was
designed to be at the outset, so that it may more and more reflect
the fellowship of all nations, committed and able to act decisively
toward international justice, peace, and the integrity of the world's
environment.

Heavy responsibility weighs presently not only on the world's
politicians, but also on the different religious communities, the
financial institutions, the scientific and educational communities,
the institutions and agencies of information and the world of
entertainment. The globalized world cannot simply be a stage for free
competition, but one for the search of humankind's common future.

At this critical juncture, it is my sincere hope that the member
churches of the Lutheran World Federation will fulfill their role as
partners for human fellowship and justice in their different regions,
especially through dialogue and common action with those of other
faiths. May they, particularly through their prayer and worship, be
means by which the one God may work for the healing of the world.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 133
member churches in 73 countries representing over 60.5 million of the
64.3 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its
member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development
work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material
presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of
its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the
notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgement.]

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