Patriarch urges IGAD religious leaders to work closely with pertinent bodies on peace, instability in Horn

6/2/2010

February 6, 2010 — Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Abune Paulos urged religious leaders in eastern African countries to work in collaboration with pertinent bodies to address instability in the horn of Africa.

In a statement it sent to ENA on Friday EOC Holy Synod Secretariat said religious leaders of Inter –Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states have deliberated in Kenya on ways to address conflicts in the region. Religious leaders drawn from Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda and Sudan took part in the annual meeting, it said. The leaders deliberated on their role to resolve conflict in a peaceful manner and how to coordinate their efforts for the same cause.

Speaking at the meeting EOC patriarch Abune Paulos said religious leaders should teach their faithful to live in unity, peace, compassion love and help each other. He urged the religious leaders to strength their relations to address the peace and security and bring development.

Participants underlined than there must be strong relations with African Union Peace and Security Council and IGAD for the same cause. They also agreed that they need to develop a culture to resolve conflicts before they get worse.

They highlighted that resource utilization, illicit weapon trafficking and intolerance among neighboring countries are the major causes for conflicts. (ENA)

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