We, the undersigned ,practitioners of conflict
resolution and participants of the 2nd Conference for Mediation and
Democracy held in Vienna, Austria, from the 12th to 15th of September,
2001, are deeply grieved by the attacks in New York and Washington.
Our condolences go out to all those who have died and to their families.
We recognize the immeasurable difficulties and enormous pressure upon
the governments of the USA, their allies and other countries, to meet
concerns for security. At the same time, we are alarmed by possible
measures which might threaten more human lives. Given the enormous
pressures of the moment, the threat of escalation to even greater
violence is also looming, irrespective of the root causes.
We call upon all people, in whatever capacity they can act, to abandon
the spiral of violence and revenge, and to take actions for peace
and reconciliation. What is now called for, is the courage to
desist from further violence, and especially to avert war.
We are convinced that as long as the search for possible solutions
does not expand to include an examination of the social, political
and religious roots of the present crisis, there will be more and
more perpetrators of violence and even more victims.
We call for dialogue on all levels between governments, organizations
and people of all cultures and pledge to contribute to this goal within
our own work.