Its work has always been closely linked with the history and developments across the European continent from the Atlantic to the Urals and from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. During the first 30 years bridges had to be built and maintained across an ideological divide. The Conference of European Churches therefore rejoiced together with people throughout Europe, when the Berlin Wall disappeared. The developments in 1989 gave rise to new hopes for a just, sustainable and participatory Europe based on the implementation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We praise God for this new opportunity and are thankful for all who struggled for greater freedom and increased opportunities for all people in Europe to realise their full human potential.
Many political divisions remain.
A striking example is the dividing line in Nicosia and throughout Cyprus. Elsewhere too many other cities remain divided. Acts of terrorism continue to occur in many places and new instances underline the fragility of human existence. The use of violence in conflict situations has increased. At its anniversary meeting in Nyborg, Denmark, the Central Committee reflected extensively on the situation in Kosovo.