(From: Berc Manukoglu/New York)
E-Newsletter of the Eastern Prelacy
JULY 20, 2006
CATHOLICOS ARAM I WORKING WITH ECUMENICAL LEADERS
TO SECURE HUMANITARIAN AID FOR LEBANON
Gerges Saleh, the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Dr. Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) are in communication with His Holiness Aram I concerning the situation in Lebanon and especially to discuss humanitarian aid.
The Catholicos told the ecumenical leaders that aid is needed immediately. He also emphasized the necessity of an immediate cease-fire.
During the past few days His Holiness has received messages of support by telephone and email from His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, Archbishop Mesrob Moutafian, the Patriarch of Constantinople, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the president of the Protestant Federation of France.
The MECC has established a central emergency relief committee to work in collaboration with the Lebanese High Relief Committee and with the various churches and civil societies and private charitable organizations. The MECC called upon all churches worldwide to urge their governments to seek immediate cease-fire in order to end the escalation of violence that threatens the entire region.
