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The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Information |
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| 24.03.2007 |
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| Former Finnish President Ahtisaari Asks Europe to Guard History Against Abuse |
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PRESS RELEASE NO. 08-2007
LWF Council Participants Discuss Challenges Facing “House of Europe”
LUND, Sweden/GENEVA, 24 March 2007 – Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari has emphasized the common responsibility of Europeans in ensuring that history is not abused for inciting conflicts, but as a bridge to foster understanding in the region.
“Some conflicts within Europe reemerge because their history was never fully told or accepted,” Ahtisaari told participants in a plenary session of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Council combined with an international consultation of LWF church leaders, meeting in the Swedish city of Lund also to celebrate the Federation’s 60th anniversary.
Ahtisaari’s 24 March presentation on the “House of Europe” focused on the causes that have the potential to weaken the continent. He described Europe today as “a success story” with fewer conflicts within its borders, but noted also that the region had not reached its maximum and “peace and freedom are still put to test by hate and violence.”
“The past lives for generations in the human memory and in the societal structures. When it is manipulated, it fuels prejudices, conspiracy theories and enmity,” said Ahtisaari, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for the political process to determine Kosovo’s future status. He called for openness and acceptance that people’s familiar history might not be the only existing history, and “we have to listen to what others might tell us about our history.” The church, he told the LWF gathering, has an important role to play in ensuring that history is not abused as an ideological weapon.
Ahtisaari cited Kosovo as one important example of how a history of intolerance could have a devastating effect on people’s lives. He regretted that despite intensive negotiations with the leadership of Serbia and Kosovo for the past year, there was undoubtedly no common ground to achieve an agreement on Kosovo’s status, and no amount of additional negotiation would change the respective parties’ positions—Belgrade insists that Kosovo should remain an autonomous province within Serbia, while Pristina insists on independence.
After chairing a 10 March high-level meeting in Vienna, Austria, that concluded the negotiations for Kosovo’s future, the UN special envoy has sent a settlement proposal to the UN Secretary-General. “I hope that the international community will end this conflict by closing a chapter where history was manipulated and used to fuel violence and hatred,” he told the LWF gathering. He underscored that “a strong and united European position will be especially important in the next months.”
Ahtisaari drew attention to a special chapter in his settlement proposal that deals with the protection of religious heritage as particularly important. He however, explained that such guarantees come with responsibility.
Concerning the European Union (EU), Ahtisaari pointed out that the most obvious EU foreign policy had been its expansion from six to 27 members. But one should always remember that the benefits of the enlargement are not for the applicant countries only. “Like any growing family, the challenge is to adapt the house, and make it fit for every family member,” he said.
The prospect of EU admission for Turkey has implications not only for the country’s legislative and economic aspects but also for the geopolitics of the Middle East and Caucasus. The UN envoy said putting an end to the Turkish hope of joining the EU might lead to a fall-out between the West and the Islamic countries. It might also frustrate millions of Muslims who currently live in the EU, and would have serious implications for settling the Cyprus issue. (594 words)
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An estimated 500 people including over 100 church leaders are attending this year’s Council meeting, church leadership consultation and the LWF 60th anniversary celebrations. Also attending are officials from LWF partner organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators, LWF staff and co-opted staff, accredited media and participants in the three-year LWF international training program for young communicators.
The Council is the governing body meeting between Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other members include advisors, lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF regions.
During the Council meeting, the LWF Office for Communication Services can be reached at mobile tel no. +46/76-276 1311.
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