wfn.org | Colin Powell Confers with Heads of Churches in Jerusalem

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For more information:
Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
P.O.Box  14152 - Jerusalem 97500
E-mail address: latinpat@actcom.co.il
Personal e-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
Patriarchate's Homepage: www.lpj.org

POWELL DISCUSSES GENERAL ISSUES AND NATIVITY CHURCH

JERUSALEM, April 13, 2002---In an unprecedented meeting the U.S. Secretary of
State, Colin Powell, received a detailed memorandum from the Patriarchs and
heads of the historic churches in Jerusalem concerning the conflict between
Israelis and Palestinians in general and the standoff at Bethlehem's Church
of the Nativity.

The church leaders have increasingly met and spoken together as the crisis in
the Holy Land has deepened.  They met General Powell at the American
Consulate in Jerusalem.

They represent Catholic, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox and Evangelical
(Protestant) churches.

Led by the Patriarchs of the Latin Catholic, Armenian and Greek Orthodox
communities, the leaders presented a carefully phrased memorandum to the
Secretary of State which analyzed the situation.

The full text of their memorandum is as follows.

Letter to Mr. Colin Powell