MAJOR ZONES OF CONFLICT SEND RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD PEACE SUMMIT

Leaders from the Balkans, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Central Asia to attend

New York—[August 25, 2000]—Opening at the United Nations on August 28th, The Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders will bring together more than 1,000 religious and spiritual leaders of the world's diverse faith traditions. Many of those attending are preeminent religious leaders from current zones of conflict—such as the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Philippines, Rwanda and Sudan. One aim of the Summit is to engage these leaders in frank and meaningful discussions of how they can work together to reduce tensions in their regions.

At the Summit, the leaders will discuss how to harness the power of religious tolerance and spiritual faith to educate and mobilize their communities to focus on reducing divisions and ancient antipathies. After meeting at the U.N. headquarters these leaders will continue to engage in two-day working group session at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to devise special initiatives to address regional conflict as well as poverty issues, environmental degradation, and forgiveness and reconciliation.

Anticipated outcomes of the Summit are a Declaration for World Peace, and plans for the establishment of an ongoing International Advisory Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders. This Council can serve as a resource for the UN Secretary-General and the UN system in its conflict prevention and resolution efforts.

The Summit is being convened by an independent group of interfaith leaders, religious scholars and theologians.

The following is a list of leaders who will be attending the Summit from countries which have experienced recent conflict.

Balkans

His Excellency, Raisu-1-Ulema Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina;
Monsignor Marko Zovkic, Vicar General, Archbishop of Sarajevo Representing His Excellency Cardinal Puljic, Archbishop of Sarajevo;
His Excellency Dr. Rexhep Boja, Grand Mufti of Kosovo;
Most Reverend Marko Sopi, Bishop of Kosovo;
His Grace, Bishop Mitrofan, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Eastern America Representing His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle, Serbian Orthodox Church;
His Excellency Monsignor Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb

The Japanese Delegation is funding the leaders from the Balkans to make it possible for them to attend the Summit.

Indonesia

Venerable Gedong Bagoes Oka—President, World Conference on Religion and Peace ;
Dr. M. Habib Chirzin—The International Islamic Forum
Reverend Dr. Soritus A.E. Nababan—Christianity.
Mr. Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Islam
Mr. Kyai A. Mustafa Bisri, Islam
Drs. Mr. Habib Chirzin, Islam
Mr. Pangeran Djatikusmah, Hinduism
Father Ignatius Ismartono, Chrisitanity
Sri Bhikkhu Pannavaro Mahathera, Buddhism
Mr. Baarnaba Bambang Noorsena, Christianity
Venerable Gedong Bagoes Oka, Hinduism
BK Helen Quirin, Father Ignatius Sandyawan, Christianity
Mr. Chandra Setiawan, Confucian
Mr. Tigor S. Siahaan, Christianity
Mrs. Amanda Suharnoko, Islam
Reverend Andreas Yewangoe, Christianity

Egypt

His Excellency Kamel Al-Sharif, Islam
Dr. Aly El Samman, Islam
Her Beatitude Petres, Christianity
His Emmenence Youhanna Qulta, Christianity

Eritrea

Sheikh Alamin Usman Alamin—Mufti of Eritrea, Klam
Reverend Ogbarebi Hibtes—President, Eritrean Evangelical Church
His Beatitude Filipos W-Selasse— Eritrean Orthodox Church.
Abba Zekarias Yohannes, Christianity

Ethiopia

His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of Ethiopia
Reverend Vadessa Daba, - President, Evangelical Church of Mekane Yesus

Ghana

Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi, Christianity
Reverend Samuel E. Markwei, Christianity
Edward Frederick Okine, Christianity
Charles Robert Amartey Pappoe, Christianity
Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah, Christianity
Reverend Dr. Effah Ababio, Christianity
Professor Musah Abdul-Kadir, Islam

Kenya

Archbishop Ndingi Nzeki—Holy Family Basilica, Christianity

Nigeria

Dr. Lateef Adegbit—Secretary General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
Dr. Anthony Akpulu—National Laity Council, Christianity
Sister Theresa Okure—Catholic Institute of West Africa
Chief Wdinifred Awosika, Indigenous
His Grace Lawrence Ayo-Ladigbolu, Christianity
His Excellency Alhaji Ado Bayero, Islam
Dr. Mrs. Mercy Chukwu, Christianity
Prophetess Dr. Titi Dina, Christianity
Sister Dr. Miriam Peretua Egbuna, Christianity
Bishop Josiah Idowu Fearon, Christianity
Reverend Gabriel Nwankwo Barister, Christianity
Reverend Father Valerian Okeke, Christianity
Magistrate Mr. Ngozie Okoye, Christianity
Most Reverend John O. Onaiyekan, Christianity
Most Rev. Dr. Rufus Ositelu, Christianity

Rwanda

Reverend Dr. Andre Karamaga, Christianity

South Africa

His Grace Njongonkulu Ndungane—The Archbishop of Cape Town
Reverend H. Mvume Dandala—Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Dr. Wande Abimbola, Indigenous

Eastern Cape Province

Archbishop L. Mfecane, Indigenous
Reverend Kenosi Mofokeng, Indigenous
Archbishop Eddie Mzilana, Indigenous
Lady-Archbishop Nobomvu Mithunzi, Indigenous

Gauteng Province

Bishop Freddy Molefe, Indigenous

Sudan

Abdul-Rahim Ali Ibrahim, Islam

Uganda

His Excellency Archbishop James Ogondo—Archbishop of Tororo, Christianity
Sister Maria Goretti Kisaakye—Christianity

Beliefnet.com is the official web partner of the World Peace Summit and will be doing a live webcast of the event.

All journalists wishing to cover the portions of the Religious Summit taking place at UN Headquarters must obtain UN Press Credentials. Interested journalists must submit a request to the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit (fax: 212-963-4642) accompanied by a letter of assignment on official letterhead of a media organization and signed by a publisher, assignment editor or bureau chief. The letter should specify the name of the journalist seeking accreditation. The status of the request may be checked by calling 212-963-5934 or 7164. Once approved, a UN grounds pass can by obtained by presenting two forms of photo identification at the Pass and Identification Unit, UNITAR Building, 45th Street and First Avenue, New York, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. and between 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. For further information regarding UN accreditation only, call 212-963-6934, 6936 or 6937.

UNTV will be covering the Peace Summit. To obtain news feeds please call UNTV at 212-963-7650. Also Ruder Finn will be releasing b-roll. Call 212-593-6326