wfn.org | Title: Ceremony commemorates solidarity with Algeria

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

World Council of Churches 7 Press Info
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 08/12/2003 - info-03-17

Ceremony commemorates ecumenical solidarity with Algeria

 An Aurhs Cedar, representing over one million trees planted in
an
 ecumenical re-forestation effort following the Algerian fight
for
 independence from France, will be the center of a commemorative
ceremony
 taking place on

			 12th December 2003, 14h45
	      Ecumenical Center - 150 route de Ferney, Geneva

 The tree, planted in 1965 by then World Council of Churches
(WCC) general
 secretary Dr W.A. Visser't Hooft, was given in gratitude to
WCC member
 churches and affiliated organizations for their support in
building an
 independent Algeria over 40 years ago.

 WCC general secretary-elect Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will welcome
 representatives who were active in the re-forestation program
from Cimade
 (a French solidarity organization) as well as the former
Christian
 Committee for Service in Algeria (CCSA).  They will gather to
identify the
 now 12-meter tall tree with commemorative plaques in both
French and
 Arabic.  In a reciprocal gesture showing continued solidarity
with
 Algeria, seeds garnered from the now towering tree will be
presented to Mr
 Mebarek Cheddad, former head of the CCSA tree nurseries, and Ms
Chirifa
 Abid, currently active in maintaining traditional community
skills - both
 of Algeria.

 The ceremony takes place as the official year to enhance
cultural,
 political and social exchange between France and Algeria draws
to a close.

For more information contact:
	 Media Relations Office
 tel: (+41 22) 791 64 21 / (+41 22) 791 61 53
 e-mail:media@wcc-coe.org 
 http://www.wcc-coe.org 

 The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now
342, in
 more than 120 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, Netherlands. Its staff is
headed by
 general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in
Germany.