US Ambassador Bob Seiple and European MP E-R Korhola to Chair First Step Forum During 2006

For Immediate Release

January 23, 2006

[from Finland]

AMBASSADOR BOB SEIPLE AND EUROPEAN MP E-R KORHOLA TO CHAIR FIRST STEP FORUM DURING 2006.

During its annual meeting in Rabat, , on January 14, 2006, the First Step Forum elected US Ambassador Bob Seiple and Mrs. Eija-Riitta Korhola, Member of the European Parliament to co-chair the Forum during 2006. Ambassador Seiple was the first ever US Ambassador-at-large for religious freedom and Mrs. Eija-Riitta Korhola, Finland, is a member of the European Parliament and its Committee on Human Rights and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

First Step Forum is a global network of Ambassadors, Members of Parliament, journalists, advocates and business investment experts who have a concern to see religious liberty flourish on our world, freedom enshrined in Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights. First Step Forum is directed by Rev. Johan Candelin, who is also the Goodwill Ambassador of the World Evangelical Alliance.

The Forum seeks to identify global, national and local social and political
trends which may be seen as “tomorrow’s problems seen today”. The Forum seeks to be proactive by building bridges and work for constructive
solutions with governments, people groups and individuals in a diplomatic
and proactive way. The name “first step” comes from the saying “a journey
of ten thousand miles beings with the first step”.

The Forum has members of Parliament from Canada, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the European Parliament. and the European Parliament ( both conservatives and labour).

The Forum is during 2006 working closely with partners in Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Bolivia, Pakistan, Eritrea, Macedonia and Syria.

Contact Information:

For interviews or more information please email Mr. Candelin at:
[email protected]

Executive Director: Johan Candelin, (Goodwill Ambassador, WEA)
Phone: + 358 40 5147611

E-mail: [email protected]

Executive Secretary of the Forum: Mr. Tim Dean,

Phone: + 44 1483 534119