wfn.org | 2 p.m. Teleconference May 24 Follows NCC Meeting with Kofi

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of Churches (USA)
ADVISORY FOR: Monday, May 24, 2004
CONTACT: Trevor FitzGibbon, Jessica Smith, Fenton Communications,
202-822-5200

**UN Meeting on May 24 b Teleconference Follows at 2:00 pm EST**
Religious Leaders Will Encourage UN Secretary General To Set Conditions for
UN Role in Iraq 

 Ask Annan to Include Phased U.S. Troop Withdrawal; End to US Economic
Control; Continued US Reconstruction Aid

RSVPs Only for Telephone Briefing with Religious Leaders After Meeting 

Rev. Bob Edgar, NCC General Secretary, and Other Religious Leaders
Available for Interviews Following UN Meeting

On May 24, the National Council of Churches USA will lead a delegation of
religious leaders to urge United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to make
constructive use of the opportunity for UN leadership created by the
deteriorating US position in Iraq. They will ask him to call on President
Bush to reverse course in order to secure much-needed assistance from the UN
in resolving the crisis.  

Out of a moral concern for the continuing loss of life, the religious leaders
will ask Annan to seek a phased withdrawal of US troops by a date certain; an
end to US attempts to control the Iraqi economy, particularly oil; and a
substantial long-term commitment of US funds for rebuilding Iraq. 

Recognizing that major countries will remain unwilling to help provide
security and reconstruction assistance unless the US role is reduced
substantially, the religious leaders believe that a strong UN initiative is
indispensable for achieving a peaceful transition to an Iraqi government
chosen by Iraqis as well as international legitimacy for the transition.

The leaders will also ask Annan to call an internal conference of all
relevant parties in Iraq to determine the people, plans and processes to move
from the current impasse to Iraqi self-rule as well as an international
conference to ensure broad multi-lateral support for the countrybs
reconstruction efforts.  

WHO:   Reverend Bob Edgar, General Secretary for NCC; Reverend Keith
Clements, General Secretary of Conference of European Churches; Bishop Mark
Hanson, Presiding Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; Reverend
Cliff Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of Presbyterian Church USA; Reverend Paul
Renshaw, Coordinating Secretary International Affairs, Churches Together in
Britain and Ireland

WHAT: Teleconference following meeting with UN General Secretary, Kofi Annan

WHEN: Monday, May 24, at 2:00 p.m.

Please call Jessica Smith at 202-822-5200 or email Jessica@fenton.com to RSVP
for call and receive call-in number.

The National Council of Churches USA is composed of 36 national denominations
from the Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant traditions.	Together these
communions have a constituency of 50 million persons in more than 100,000
congregations across the country.  

///