LIPHOOK'S 'Vicar of Baghdad' has chaired the inaugural meeting between Iraq's most senior religious and political leaders aimed at ending violence and religious strife in the war-torn Middle East. The intensive and complex programme at last week's meeting was driven and presided over by Liphook-based Canon Andrew White who, in 10 years in Iraq, has won the trust and affection of an amazingly wide cross-section of politicians and clerics. The Iraqi Reconciliation Conference in Copenhagen, brought nearly two dozen political and religious leaders to the Danish capital and passed a total of 22 resolutions. Canon White, who is president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East, has worked relentlessly to end violence between the country's different religous groups and improve human rights in Iraq as a whole. It was organised from offices in Liphook and the whole meeting was co-ordinated by former Bohunt pupil Andrew Stonestreet, who read politics and international affairs at Leeds University. He is the FRRME's main project officer on Iraq. But the reconciliation process was put in jeopardy when a number of senior figures refused to travel to Denmark as the simmering row over the Danish magazine which printed cartoons poking fun at Mohammed, flared up again. Canon White told The Herald: "Things were very difficult to start with – not least because the Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohamed emerged again while it was taking place. "A few of our delegates would not come because they said it was too difficult for them to be seen in Denmark and they may be killed if they came, and in reality, it is difficult. "We have had to try and do what we could to prevent damage to those who were at the meeting when they return home. Canon White added: "It was quite an exceptional gathering. The major issues we have been dealing with are the relationship of religion and politics, human rights and the abolition of violence. "The discussion has been outstanding and at no time did it become hostile. One of the major issues was how the recommendations can be taken forward." The delegates believed that things in their country have improved to the point where a strong statement, containing many specific recommendations, might well have an impact on the central government. The Iraqi goverment will be asked to hold a national conference to review and implement recommendations from this and other reconciliation conferences. A permanent committee was created by the Iraqi Inter-Religious Initiatives to implement the accord.
