Following the events over the last few days in Belgrade and other Yugoslav cities, the General Secretary of the conference of European Churches (CEC), the Rev Dr Keith Clements, following conversations with church representatives in Belgrade, has issued the following call to prayer on Friday, 6 October, 2000.

"Now is the time for Christians and churches throughout Europe to pray anew for the people of Yugoslavia, and to manifest their solidarity with the churches of that country during these critical days. The Serbian Orthodox Church showed great courage when, immediately after the recent presidential elections, it called for recognition of the democratic will of the people in their choice of a new President. We must pray that the Serbian Orthodox Church, and all the churches of Yugoslavia, will by God's grace be strengthened to continue to witness to the fundamental values of human dignity, justice and freedom, and so assist in a peaceful transition to a new and democratic Yugoslavia, under a government committed to human rights and in a society based on participation and dialogue.

"The hopes of the people of Yugoslavia are now so high for decisive change and a better future. As soon as the political situation in Yugoslavia is clarified, the international community, including the European Union, must fulfil its promises to end the political and economic isolation of Yugoslavia, and assist in the reconstruction of the country which is suffering so grievously from the effects of political repression, war and economic sanctions.

"The Conference of European Churches, which is committed to a long-term programme of peace-building in the Balkans, will be seeking urgent consultations with its member churches in Yugoslavia on how the wider ecumenical family can assist them in their ministry of reconciliation. In recent months contacts with the churches in Serbia have been hampered by the evident refusal by the Yugoslav government of visas to ecumenical representatives. We, in common with the CEC member churches in Yugoslavia, hope that this situation will now soon change.

"Meanwhile, let all pray, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

CEC member churches in Yugoslavia include the Evangelical Methodist Church, the Christian Reformed Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church.