Agenzia Fides

Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - “The violence and bloodbath must stop immediately, as war is not the solution to the current problems,” affirms a statement by the Ecumenical Council of Christian Churches in Tripoli (Libya) issued today, 13 April, to the United Nations Office in Tripoli and copied to Fides. The statement, in Arabic and English, was forwarded by Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli. In the preamble it states: “As a community of believers we are greatly saddened by the tragic events that happened recently tearing apart this Country with prolonged agony and suffering, fears and anxieties of its people and we wish to express our solidarity.”
The Christian Churches asks for “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by all parties involved in the dispute and humanitarian assistance to... the victims.” It further states: “dialogue and reconciliation should be the way forward to find amicable solutions and bring about peace.” For this, the message continues, “we strongly support any efforts and initiatives of elders of this Country who know the genuine sentiments and aspirations of the Libyan people and of any international organisations, in creating an atmosphere of confidence to find a peaceful solutions.” The statement concludes saying that their “prayers will continue to be in solidarity with all the Libyan Muslims as they struggle to find peace and justice in this difficult time in the Country's history.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/4/2011)