April 9, 2003

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, reiterated his criticism of the war in Iraq during a press conference in the Salvadoran capital, San Salvador.

The United States-led war against Iraq cannot be justified, as the United Nations inspectors were carrying out their work, and the United States and Great Britain did not allow them to continue to disarm Iraq in the framework of UN agreements, Noko said.

The general secretary is participating in the April 6-9 Latin America and Caribbean Pre-Assembly Consultation (PAC) to prepare church representatives from the region for the July 2003 LWF Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada.

The attack against Iraq, Noko said, has flouted international laws and sparked division in the world community. The war has also lead to tension between governments and their citizens, as demonstrated in the massive anti-war protest marches in many cities worldwide.

Noko cautioned that even though the United States and Great Britain may win the war, peace will have been lost. The price to pay will be very high, both in human lives and financial resources. In addition, the conflict will only deepen anti-American sentiment around the world and lead to increased tension between Christians and Muslim communities.

Meanwhile, San Salvador's mayor-elect Carlos Rivas Zamora, recognized Noko as a "distinguished guest." On April 7, the LWF general secretary was given the keys to Quezaltepeque city in the department of La Libertad.

Lutheran World Information