wfn.org | WCC: statement on Iraq

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release PR-03-14
For Immediate Use
20 March 2003

WCC statement on Iraq: "Wars cannot be won, only peace can"

Reacting with "profound sorrow" to news that a military attack on Iraq has
begun,	World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Konrad
Raiser has today released a statement calling the attack "immoral, illegal
and ill-advised".

In condemning the attack led by the United States, Raiser points out that it
began "without the consent of the UN Security Council" and that it ignores
"the voice of civil society, churches and other faith communities in those
countries and world-wide". 

He emphasizes that the attack is "politically dangerous" and "culturally
unwise". "By relying on the right of the powerful, including the use of
threat and economic pressure to influence other states to support their
action, these countries undermine international rule of law that has taken
half a century to construct," he states.

Expressing his conviction that "non-violent means to solve the conflict have
been far from exhausted," Raiser argues that "the only sustainable response
to terrorism is to achieve rule of law, within the rule of law".

"At this time for repentance," he continues, "we pray for all the people who
will suffer in this war, as well as soldiers and their families." Recalling
the overwhelming response of the global church community against the war, he
notes that "The energy that has been released bears witness to a spirituality
that calls for peaceful coexistence of all nations and peoples in accordance
with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. That energy must not be
lost." He says churches need to continue efforts to stop the war, assist
those in need and "cooperate with people of other faiths, especially Muslims,
to restore confidence and trust amongst the nations of the world".

Raiser calls on the governments of the US and the UK and their supporters to
cease all military activity, and on all parties "to abide by human rights
obligations under international humanitarian law".  

"Although this is a day when diplomacy was rejected by some, our call for
peace remains," Raiser concludes. "Any war comes at a high price of death of
soldiers and civilians, destruction of property and the environment, and the
division of people, governments and cultures. This war is no exception. Wars
cannot be won, only peace can."

The WCC is responding to the humanitarian situation through Action by
Churches Together (ACT) International, http://act-intl.org/ 

The full text of the statement can be found at: 
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqstatement.html 

Photos are available to accompany this statement by contacting the WCC Media
Relations office. The photos can be viewed at:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/iraqphotos.html 

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office,  tel: +41
(0)22 791 64 21 /61 53

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, 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, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Media Relations Office
Tel: (41 22) 791 6153 / 791 6421
Fax: (41 22) 798 1346
E-mail: media@wcc-coe.org 
Web: www.wcc-coe.org 

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