World Council of Churches -
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For immediate release:
11 February 2005
WCC general secretary calls for a return to "constitutional sobriety" in Togo
In solidarity with the churches of Togo, the general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, called today for a return to "constitutional sobriety" in the country, and emphasized the concern of the Council and of churches worldwide provoked by the constitutional crisis in the country.
"It is a gospel imperative for the churches in Togo to stand for what is just, noble, true and honourable to safeguard the people's right to be governed according to the constitution without manipulation," the general secretary stated. "It is a great tragedy that, while the continent is progressing towards the values of democracy and human dignity, the people of Togo are still being subjected to misrule and exploitation."
The comments came in the wake of international reactions to the appointment by the Togolese military of late president Gnassingbe Eyadema's son, Faure Eyadema, as leader earlier in the week.
Further information on WCC's work on international affairs is available on:
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/index-e.html
Additional information:
Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
