Church of the Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Avenue Elgin, Illinois 60120-1694
April 5, 1999
President Bill Clinton
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
The whole world looks with horror at the events unfolding in the Balkans,
as warplanes fill the skies and ethnic cleansing is carried out on the
ground below. In the midst of this terrible situation, I am led by the
teachings of the bible, by the traditions of our church, and by the stark
reality that violence only begets violence, to call on you to stop the
bombing of Yugoslavia.
The intentions of the United States and its allies may have been noble in
seeking to protect the rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. However, in
allowing for only two options--to condone ethnic cleansing or to seek a
military solution--we have created a no-win situation where ultimately the
very people we have sought to protect are being further endangered.
Along with a cessation of the bombing, what is needed now is a return of
international peace monitors coupled with OSCE or United Nations'-led
negotiations between the Yugoslavian government and the Kosovo Albanians.
We must also support voices for peace within Yugoslavia, while holding
leaders from every quarter responsible for crimes against humanity, and in
particular the crimes of the Milosevic regime against the people of Kosovo.
The world desperately needs new and creative approaches to situations like
this, which will doubtless continue to be a part of our world as we enter
the next millennium. The United States can take the lead in helping fashion
these new responses to the age-old problems of the human family.
Our denomination will be in prayer for the victims of the conflict and for
the leaders of the nations involved. We have also begun to provide
humanitarian assistance for those displaced by the conflict.
May God grant you the strength and vision to act for peace in this
troubling situation.
Sincerely,
Judy Mills Reimer
Executive Director
Other Links:
Agencies Assisting in Balkan Relief Efforts
Humanitarian Law Violations In Kosovo
Kosovo Humanitarian Aid
Military Databank
Peace-Petition Kosovo
Refugees International
Save The Children
Timeline: Yugoslavia & The Balkans
Yahoo Kosovo Directory
