wfn.org | In Lebanon, NCC Delegation Meets With Prime Minister, Interfaith

["Carol Fouke" <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

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National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contacts: Carol Fouke in New York, 212-870-2252/2227
Jim Wetekam with delegation: (011) 4-4787-635-8534
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org <mailto:news@ncccusa.org>; Web: www.ncccusa.org
<http://www.ncccusa.org>
NCC4/21/2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IN LEBANON, NCC DELEGATION MEETS WITH PRIME MINISTER,
INTERACTS WITH CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS IN A TOWN HALL MEETING

By Jim Wetekam*

April 20, 2002, BEIRUT, Lebanon - Continuing a rapid pace through the Middle
East, a delegation of fourteen persons visiting the region on behalf of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), held eleven
meetings with key political and religious leaders in Lebanon. The meetings,
over the course of two days (April 19-20), focused primarily on questions
related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, terrorism and Christian-Muslim
relations.

On its first night in Beirut, the group heard a variety of opinions from
Muslim and Christian leaders in a "town-hall style" meeting convened by
Lebanon's Islamic-Christian National Dialogue Committee. In addition to
Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox, Armenian
Catholic, and evangelical Christian leaders in Lebanon, the delegation met
with Sheikh Abdel Ameer Kabalan of the Islamic Shi'ite Council and with
Sheik Dr. Mohammad Rashid Kabbani, the Grand Mufti of Lebanon.

The time in Lebanon included dinner for the delegation at the residence of
Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, who had just returned from Washington and his
meetings with President Bush. Responding to the events of September 11, as
did many speakers in Lebanon, Mr. Hariri said, "We condemn this terrorist
act. We think these people are inhuman criminals."

After discussion of topics related to the attack on the United States, the
Prime Minister turned to events occurring now in Israel and Palestine.
Referring to the events of the past few weeks, he stated, "[Mr.] Sharon did
not only destroy the Palestinian infrastructure and kill civilians. He
damaged the philosophy of peace...and the damage he made to this may be even
more important. He committed a crime against humanity."

This theme was echoed by other leaders in Lebanon. As the delegation headed
on Sunday by land to Syria, it made one final stop in the Bekaa Valley to
meet Elie Ferzli, Vice-President of the House of Parliament. Mr. Ferzli, a
Christian, spoke about the diversity of Lebanon and current relations
between Muslims and Christians. He explained, "We believe that in Lebanon
this coexistence succeeded in achieving its goals."

Followed by the Lebanese media at nearly every juncture, the delegation
found that Lebanese officials and religious figures were clear in their
condemnation of terrorism. However, these people asked, too, that Americans
try to understand the root causes from which such terrorism can develop.

The Rev. William Shaw, President of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A.,
Inc., among the largest African-American denominations in the U.S., assessed
a portion of what the delegation heard in Lebanon: "A major challenge
confronts our country to see and understand another perspective on
terrorism. What is seen [in the U.S.] is almost totally through the prism of
9-11. But the problems pre-date 9-11 and cannot be judged solely through the
perspective of 9-11."

The NCC delegation -- led by NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar and President
Elenie Huszagh -- left New York April 16 and met with Orthodox Christian
leaders in Istanbul, Turkey, April 17-18.  From Lebanon, the group goes on
to Syria (April 21-22) and Jordan (April 22-23), then Israel/Palestine
(April 23-26, departing April 27).

The group is being hosted by the Middle East Council of Churches (the Rev.
Dr. Riad Jarjour, General Secretary) and Jerusalem church leaders.  The
NCC's 36 member denominations comprise 50 million adherents.

-end-

*Jim Wetekam, Media Program Director for Churches for Middle East Peace, is
a member of the NCC delegation.