New York-[August 25, 2000]-Opening at the United Nations on August 28th, The Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders will bring together more than 1,000 religious and spiritual leaders of the world's diverse faith traditions. Many of those attending are preeminent religious leaders from current zones of conflict-such as the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Philippines, Rwanda and Sudan. One aim of the Summit is to engage these leaders in frank and meaningful discussions of how they can work together to reduce tensions in their regions.

At the Summit, the leaders will discuss how to harness the power of religious tolerance and spiritual faith to educate and mobilize their communities to focus on reducing divisions and ancient antipathies. After meeting at the U.N. headquarters these leaders will continue to engage in two-day working group session at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to devise special initiatives to address regional conflict as well as poverty issues, environmental degradation, and forgiveness and reconciliation.

Anticipated outcomes of the Summit are a Declaration for World Peace, and plans for the establishment of an ongoing International Advisory Council of Religious and Spiritual Leaders. This Council can serve as a resource for the UN Secretary-General and the UN system in its conflict prevention and resolution efforts.

The Summit is being convened by an independent group of interfaith leaders, religious scholars and theologians.

The following is a list of leaders who will be attending the Summit from countries which have experienced recent conflict.

Balkans

• His Excellency, Raisu-1-Ulema Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Grand Mufti of Bosnia- Herzegovina
• Monsignor Marko Zovkic, Vicar General, Archbishop of Sarajevo Representing His Excellency Cardinal Puljic, Archbishop of Sarajevo
• His Excellency Dr. Rexhep Boja, Grand Mufti of Kosovo
• Most Reverend Marko Sopi, Bishop of Kosovo
• His Grace, Bishop Mitrofan, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Eastern America Representing His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle, Serbian Orthodox Church
• His Excellency Monsignor Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb

The Japanese Delegation is funding the leaders from the Balkans to make it possible for them to attend the Summit.

Indonesia

• Venerable Gedong Bagoes Oka, President, World Conference on Religion and Peace
• Dr. M. Habib Chirzin, The International Islamic Forum
• Reverend Dr. Soritus A.E. Nababan, Christianity
• Mr. Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Islam
• Mr. Kyai A. Mustafa Bisri, Islam
• Mr. Habib Chirzin, Islam
• Mr. Pangeran Djatikusmah, Hinduism
• Father Ignatius Ismartono, Chrisitanity
• Sri Bhikkhu Pannavaro Mahathera, Buddhism
• Mr. Baarnaba Bambang Noorsena, Christianity
• Venerable Gedong Bagoes Oka, Hinduism
• BK Helen Quirin, Father Ignatius Sandyawan, Christianity
• Mr. Chandra Setiawan, Confucianism
• Mr. Tigor S. Siahaan, Christianity
• Mrs. Amanda Suharnoko, Islam
• Reverend Andreas Yewangoe, Christianity

Egypt

• His Excellency Kamel Al-Sharif, Islam
• Dr. Aly El Samman, Islam
• Her Beatitude Petres, Christianity
• His Emmenence Youhanna Qulta, Christianity

Eritrea

• Sheikh Alamin Usman Alamin, Mufti of Eritrea, Islam
• Reverend Ogbarebi Hibtes, President, Eritrean Evangelical Church
• His Beatitude Filipos W. Selasse, Eritrean Orthodox Church
• Abba Zekarias Yohannes, Christianity

Ethiopia

• His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of Ethiopia
• Reverend Vadessa Daba, President, Evangelical Church of Mekane Yesus

Ghana

• Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Kingsley Larbi, Christianity
• Reverend Samuel E. Markwei, Christianity
• Edward Frederick Okine, Christianity
• Charles Robert Amartey Pappoe, Christianity
• Monsignor Jonathan Ankrah, Christianity
• Reverend Dr. Effah Ababio, Christianity
• Professor Musah Abdul-Kadir, Islam

Kenya

• Archbishop Ndingi Nzeki, Holy Family Basilica, Christianity

Nigeria

• Dr. Lateef Adegbit, Secretary General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
• Dr. Anthony Akpulu, National Laity Council, Christianity
• Sister Theresa Okure, Catholic Institute of West Africa
• Chief Wdinifred Awosika, Indigenous
• His Grace Lawrence Ayo, Ladigbolu, Christianity
• His Excellency Alhaji Ado Bayero, Islam
• Mrs. Mercy Chukwu, Christianity
• Prophetess Dr. Titi Dina, Christianity
• Sister Dr. Miriam Peretua Egbuna, Christianity
• Bishop Josiah Idowu Fearon, Christianity
• Reverend Gabriel Nwankwo Barister, Christianity
• Reverend Father Valerian Okeke, Christianity
• Magistrate Mr. Ngozie Okoye, Christianity
• Most Reverend John O. Onaiyekan, Christianity
• Most Rev. Dr. Rufus Ositelu, Christianity

Rwanda

• Reverend Dr. Andre Karamaga, Christianity

South Africa

• His Grace Njongonkulu Ndungane, The Archbishop of Cape Town
• Reverend H. Mvume Dandala, Methodist Church of Southern Africa
• Dr. Wande Abimbola, Indigenous

Eastern Cape Province

• Archbishop L. Mfecane, Indigenous
• Reverend Kenosi Mofokeng, Indigenous
• Archbishop Eddie Mzilana, Indigenous
• Lady-Archbishop Nobomvu Mithunzi, Indigenous

Gauteng Province

• Bishop Freddy Molefe, Indigenous

Sudan

• Abdul-Rahim Ali Ibrahim, Islam

Uganda

• His Excellency Archbishop James Ogondo, Archbishop of Tororo, Christianity
• Sister Maria Goretti Kisaakye, Christianity

Beliefnet.com is the official web partner of the World Peace Summit and will be doing a live webcast of the event.