New York, NY - His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Primate of world-wide Orthodox Christianity has issued the following appeal for a cease-fire in the Kosovo conflict. The full text of the His All Holiness’ message is below.

APPEAL OF HIS ALL HOLINESS

THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW

FOR A CEASEFIRE

March 29, 1999

I, Patriarch Bartholomew, in the name of God who loves humankind, in the name of the human race, in the name of civilization, at this season of the religious feast of the Muslims, the Easter of the Roman Catholics and Protestants, the Passover of the Jews and the Pascha of the orthodox, on bended knees fervently appeal from the tormented depths of my heart to all world government leaders, to military commanders and to those armed forces throughout the world, that they cease fire immediately and permanently. We beseech them to use mutual understanding and mutual concession to resolve peacefully their regional, international and worldwide disputes, in order that the peace of God and mercy might bless them and all people. Amen.