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On March 7, CMEP
Board members signed a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
applauding the decision to participate in meetings sponsored by the
government of Iraq that will include Syria and Iran. The signers
reflect on CMEP board and staff travels to Syria and Iran while
encouraging a broadening of the diplomatic engagement of the United
States. CMEP also urges Sec. Rice’s urgent and sustained attention to
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as integral to achieving peace and
stability in the region. The full text of the letter is included
below.
TAKE ACTION!
The letter was faxed
to key people in the Administration and will be delivered soon to all
Congressional offices. CMEP encourages you to print out the letter
and send it along with your personal note of recommendation to the
attention of your representative and two senators.
Letter in PDF
Format
Contact Info for
your
Senators and
Representative.
March 7, 2007
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
United States Department of State
Washington, DC
Dear Secretary Rice,
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is encouraged
by your announcement that the United States will participate in
international meetings sponsored by the Government of Iraq that will
also include Syria and Iran. We support broadening the diplomatic
engagement of the United States as a means to work for peace and
stability in Iraq and the region.
We applaud the decision to join in high-level talks
with Iran and Syria. We urge that this be the first step in
diplomatic engagement with Syria and with Iran to deal with other
outstanding issues that stand in the way of peace and security. We
are alarmed that, despite Administration comments to the contrary,
there is a widely-held perception that the United States is
preparing for a military attack on Iran or is preparing Israel for
such an attack. Active diplomacy, accompanied by stated support for
peacemaking and respect for the United Nations and international
treaties, could restore much of the goodwill that the United States
once enjoyed as well as international cooperation in challenging
Iran regarding its nuclear program.
Members of the CMEP Board and staff traveled to
Syria, in April 2006, and to Iran, in late February 2007, to meet
with government officials as well as both Christians and Muslim
religious leaders. They report a considerable reservoir of friendly
respect for the American people and apparent readiness for
diplomatic engagement with the U.S. government. It is our
recommendation that the United States look to the growing indigenous
pressure for reform as the change agent for good governance in Syria
and in Iran and that you engage with those currently in positions of
authority.
In the context of a political process on the future
of Iraq, we encourage the U.S. government to announce it will, in
consultation with all Iraqi leaders and neighbors, develop a plan to
work toward full military disengagement. Until then, the United
States should avoid escalation.
Concurrent with the new diplomatic approach relative
to Iraq, we urge your and the President’s urgent and sustained
attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which is inexorably
linked to all key issues in the Middle East. We agree with the
findings of the Iraq Study Group that “the only basis on which peace
can be achieved is
that set forth in UN Security Council Resolutions 242
and 338 and in the principle of ‘land for peace.’” Toward the
objective of a two-state solution that ends the occupation and
provides recognition and security to Israel, we urge you to bring
to the table Israelis and Palestinians, who have the authority to
negotiate, to broker a comprehensive ceasefire and prepare for
negotiating the final status issues: Jerusalem, borders, settlements
and refugees. A more detailed vision of a permanent status agreement
from the Quartet would be helpful as a political horizon for the
leaders and their people.
We appreciate your attention to our policy
recommendations. And know that you are ever in our prayers.
Sincerely,
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Armenian Orthodox Church
The Rt. Rev. Wayne Burkette
Moravian Church in America
Rev. Daryl Byler
Director, Washington Office
Mennonite Central Committee
Jim Fine
Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Jeanette Holt
Associate Director
Alliance of Baptists
Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory
Director, Washington Office
Presbyterian Church, (USA)
Rev. Philip Jones
Director
Brethren Witness/Washington Office
Church of the Brethren
R. Aura Kanegis
Director of Public Affairs/Washington Office
American Friends Service Committee
Rob Keithan
Director
Washington Office for Advocacy
Unitarian Universalist Association of
Congregations
Antonios Kireopoulos
Representative to CMEP for the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
and National Council of Churches
Rev. James Kofski
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Peter Makari
Executive, Middle East and Europe
Common Global Ministries Board of the
United Church of Christ and
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
T. Michael McNulty, SJ
Justice and Peace Director
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
The Very Rev. George Rados
Antiochian Orthodox Church in North America
Maureen Shea
Director of Government Relations
The Episcopal Church
Ann Staal
Social Witness/Middle East
Reformed Church in America
Karen Vagley
Director, Washington Office
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Jim Winkler
General Secretary, Board of Church & Society
United Methodist Church
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