The War In The Balkans: Churches urge halt to bombing

Christian Response

WORLD CHURCH bodies yesterday called on Nato to halt its bombing of Yugoslavia and urged the United Nations to launch new Kosovo peace efforts under its own auspices.

In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, the leaders of four major Christian groupings said the longer the Western alliance maintained its assault, the more difficult a solution would be.

"We write to express our profound concern at the current military intervention of Nato in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and appeal to you to immediately initiate efforts of the United Nations to seek a just and lasting peace to the conflict in Kosovo," the letter said.

It was signed by Konrad Reiser, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, Keith Clements of the Conference of European Churches and Ishmael Noko of the World Lutheran Federation.

The three said the letter also had the support of the Reformed Alliance of Reformed Churches.

"The Nato-led interventionmanifests the failure of the international community to achieve a credible, negotiated solution," the letter said. (Reuters)