The World Council of Churches (WCC) congratulates Tarek Mitri on his new assignment in Libya

By World Council of Churches (WCC)

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 14, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary has hailed the appointment of Dr Tarek Mitri as the United Nations Secretary General's special representative in Libya, a decision announced on 12 September at the U.N Security Council meeting.

Mitri is a former WCC programme executive from Lebanon who worked for the inter-religious dialogue and cooperation programme from 1991 to 2005. He will be succeeding Ian Martin of Britain who is to complete his assignment on 14 October.

“We should as churches offer our prayers and support to Tarek Mitri for his assignment in Libya,” said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the WCC general secretary.

“In a situation of recent attacks on the US consulate in Libya, Mitri's role will be a significant one in the persuit of peace, reconciliation and inter-religious trust in the country,” he added.

Tveit went on to say that “Mitri's association with the Middle East Council of Churches and his experience of building interfaith relations in the region will be a considerable asset in his new role in Libya.”

Mitri, who is a former Lebanese cabinet minister, holds a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Paris. He has authored numerous publications on the subject of law, religion and interfaith relations. He held several academic positions, including recent posts at the Saint Joseph University in Beirut and the American University in Beirut.

Mitri recently addressed a WCC public hearing at the council's Central Committee meeting in Greece, where he spoke about the situation of Christians in the Middle East and the significance of inter-religious cooperation and trust.