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An urgent call to action for a just peace in Syria - World Council of
Churches ecumenical consultation on Syria -
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/29412
January 18, 2014
With the Geneva 2 talks on Syria scheduled for 22 January, some 30
church leaders from Syria and around the world gathered a week ahead
of time at the headquarters of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in
Geneva, Switzerland, and called for substantial action be taken at the
talks to end the armed conflict.
The meeting, called the Ecumenical Consultation on Syria and sponsored
by the WCC, was held 15 to17 January. It is a follow up to a similar
meeting in September 2013 sponsored by the WCC which also included
Brahimi and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
"We are representing the silent majority, the voice of the voiceless,"
said Catholicos Aram I, head of the Holy See of Cilicia of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, to Brahimi who consulted with the group on
Thursday afternoon, 15 January.
"Your mission is not an easy one,' Aram continued. `It is a critical,
crucial mission. You can be sure that you have our full support, the
full support of all churches, the full support of the global Christian
community.'
When asked what the church and others can do now about Syria, Brahimi
said, churches can `mobilize international opinion, to condemn all
that is bad in this situation and to support all that is good now.'
When describing the plans for the Geneva 2 talks, Brahimi said,
"hopefully we will begin talking about peace and not war anymore."
`Our aspiration is that Syrians put an end to their war and start
rebuilding their country,' he said.
Message to Geneva 2 talks from the WCC Ecumenical Consultation on Syria
Church leaders and representatives from Syria, the Middle East Council
of Churches, the World Council of Churches and the Holy See[1]
gathered in Geneva from 15-17 January 2014 for a consultation to
address the forthcoming Geneva II peace conference on Syria.
Christians have maintained a continuous presence in the land of Syria
since the dawn of Christianity. Today, as churches and church-related
humanitarian agencies, we are present with the people of Syria on a
daily basis both inside the country and amongst refugees. In this
communication, we seek to raise their voice.
Our concern is for all people affected by the indiscriminate violence
and humanitarian calamity in Syria. Innocent children, women and men
are being killed, wounded, traumatized and driven from their homes in
uncounted numbers. We hear their cries, knowing that when `one member
suffers, all suffer together with it' (1 Corinthians 12:26).
There will be no military solution to the crisis in the country.
Endeavouring to be faithful to God's love of all human beings, and
within the context of international humanitarian law, we submit these
calls for action and guidelines for building peace.
We call upon you, as participants in the Geneva II conference, to:
1. pursue an immediate cessation of all armed confrontation and
hostility within Syria. We call for all parties to the conflict to
release detained and kidnapped persons. We urge the UN Security
Council to implement measures ending the flow of weapons and foreign
fighters into Syria.
2. ensure that all vulnerable communities in Syria and refugees in
neighbouring countries receive appropriate humanitarian assistance.
Where such large populations are at serious risk, full humanitarian
access is essential in compliance with international law and the
Responsibility to Protect.
3. develop a comprehensive and inclusive process toward establishing a
just peace and rebuilding Syria. All sectors of society (including
government, opposition and civil society) need to be included in a
Syrian solution for the Syrian people. We recognize the urgent need to
integrate women and young people fully in these processes.
Geneva II must be transformed into a peace-building process,
responding to the legitimate aspirations of all Syrian people. We
offer these guidelines:
· Any peace-building process must be Syrian-led. It should be
transparent and credible so Syrians may determine their country's
future. Such a process requires the support of the Arab League, the
United Nations and the constructive engagement of all parties involved
in the current crisis.
· All efforts must be made to secure the peace, territorial integrity
and independence of Syria.
· The multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-confessional nature and
tradition of Syrian society must be preserved. The vibrant mosaic of
Syrian society entails equal rights for all of its citizens. The human
rights, dignity and religious freedom for all must be promoted and
protected in accordance with international norms.
As Christians we speak with one voice in calling for a just peace in
Syria. To achieve this peace, we are committed to working hand-in-hand
with Muslim sisters and brothers, with whom we share a common history
along with spiritual and social values. We seek to work for national
reconciliation and healing through building trust.
`Blessed are the peacemakers' (Matthew 5:9).
________________________________
[1] Participants came from the following countries: France, Germany,
Italy, Iran, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ecumenical
partners included the ACT Alliance, the Community of Sant'Egidio, the
Lutheran World Federation, Pax Christi International, Religions for
Peace and the World Student Christian Federation.
Churches ecumenical consultation on Syria -
http://www.horizonweekly.ca/news/details/29412
January 18, 2014
With the Geneva 2 talks on Syria scheduled for 22 January, some 30
church leaders from Syria and around the world gathered a week ahead
of time at the headquarters of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in
Geneva, Switzerland, and called for substantial action be taken at the
talks to end the armed conflict.
The meeting, called the Ecumenical Consultation on Syria and sponsored
by the WCC, was held 15 to17 January. It is a follow up to a similar
meeting in September 2013 sponsored by the WCC which also included
Brahimi and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
"We are representing the silent majority, the voice of the voiceless,"
said Catholicos Aram I, head of the Holy See of Cilicia of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, to Brahimi who consulted with the group on
Thursday afternoon, 15 January.
"Your mission is not an easy one,' Aram continued. `It is a critical,
crucial mission. You can be sure that you have our full support, the
full support of all churches, the full support of the global Christian
community.'
When asked what the church and others can do now about Syria, Brahimi
said, churches can `mobilize international opinion, to condemn all
that is bad in this situation and to support all that is good now.'
When describing the plans for the Geneva 2 talks, Brahimi said,
"hopefully we will begin talking about peace and not war anymore."
`Our aspiration is that Syrians put an end to their war and start
rebuilding their country,' he said.
Message to Geneva 2 talks from the WCC Ecumenical Consultation on Syria
Church leaders and representatives from Syria, the Middle East Council
of Churches, the World Council of Churches and the Holy See[1]
gathered in Geneva from 15-17 January 2014 for a consultation to
address the forthcoming Geneva II peace conference on Syria.
Christians have maintained a continuous presence in the land of Syria
since the dawn of Christianity. Today, as churches and church-related
humanitarian agencies, we are present with the people of Syria on a
daily basis both inside the country and amongst refugees. In this
communication, we seek to raise their voice.
Our concern is for all people affected by the indiscriminate violence
and humanitarian calamity in Syria. Innocent children, women and men
are being killed, wounded, traumatized and driven from their homes in
uncounted numbers. We hear their cries, knowing that when `one member
suffers, all suffer together with it' (1 Corinthians 12:26).
There will be no military solution to the crisis in the country.
Endeavouring to be faithful to God's love of all human beings, and
within the context of international humanitarian law, we submit these
calls for action and guidelines for building peace.
We call upon you, as participants in the Geneva II conference, to:
1. pursue an immediate cessation of all armed confrontation and
hostility within Syria. We call for all parties to the conflict to
release detained and kidnapped persons. We urge the UN Security
Council to implement measures ending the flow of weapons and foreign
fighters into Syria.
2. ensure that all vulnerable communities in Syria and refugees in
neighbouring countries receive appropriate humanitarian assistance.
Where such large populations are at serious risk, full humanitarian
access is essential in compliance with international law and the
Responsibility to Protect.
3. develop a comprehensive and inclusive process toward establishing a
just peace and rebuilding Syria. All sectors of society (including
government, opposition and civil society) need to be included in a
Syrian solution for the Syrian people. We recognize the urgent need to
integrate women and young people fully in these processes.
Geneva II must be transformed into a peace-building process,
responding to the legitimate aspirations of all Syrian people. We
offer these guidelines:
· Any peace-building process must be Syrian-led. It should be
transparent and credible so Syrians may determine their country's
future. Such a process requires the support of the Arab League, the
United Nations and the constructive engagement of all parties involved
in the current crisis.
· All efforts must be made to secure the peace, territorial integrity
and independence of Syria.
· The multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-confessional nature and
tradition of Syrian society must be preserved. The vibrant mosaic of
Syrian society entails equal rights for all of its citizens. The human
rights, dignity and religious freedom for all must be promoted and
protected in accordance with international norms.
As Christians we speak with one voice in calling for a just peace in
Syria. To achieve this peace, we are committed to working hand-in-hand
with Muslim sisters and brothers, with whom we share a common history
along with spiritual and social values. We seek to work for national
reconciliation and healing through building trust.
`Blessed are the peacemakers' (Matthew 5:9).
________________________________
[1] Participants came from the following countries: France, Germany,
Italy, Iran, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden,
Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ecumenical
partners included the ACT Alliance, the Community of Sant'Egidio, the
Lutheran World Federation, Pax Christi International, Religions for
Peace and the World Student Christian Federation.