CEC and WCC Appeal for Peace in Kosovo

There is an uneasy calm in Kosovo after the violence of recent days which left 31 dead and more than 500 wounded. Many Christians were killed and around 13 churches burnt down.

In response to the threat of ethnic Albanian attack towards Serbian Christians, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) declared a joint statement to unite all Christians in America and Europe. It represents the common ground of all Western Christians towards the violence.

According to the statement, churches and religious communities "must reject any attempt from any quarter, to use religion as a motivating factor for conflict," and should "raise their voice" to confront the "new wave of violent intolerance and extremism" in Kosovo.

The statement was sent to His Holiness Pavle, Orthodox Patriarch of Serbia. The WCC and CEC general secretaries Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and Rev. Dr Keith Clements, respectively, report that the violence is "affecting the life of thousands and bringing destruction to cultural and spiritual heritage".

They express their grief "at this outbreak of conflict which is not only inflicting immense suffering here and now, but threatens to create even more difficulties for the long-term peace of Kosovo and the region".

The prayer request to pray for the victims of violence and for peace in Kosovo is also made by the WCC and CEE to the Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

In the belief that the war is one of an ethnic nature rather than a religious one, they appeal to the Patriarch for "respect to be paid to all religious and sacred buildings". They warn against the misuse of religion in the conflict.

WCC and ECE also clarified that they oppose taking revenge against the Albanians. The statement says it is "shameful" that once again, people are being "driven from their homes to join the thousands who have still not been able to return home".

WCC and ECE will join the prayer of the Patriarch for people not to give in to the "desire for revenge, which will only strengthen the cycle of violence and deny hope for the future".