Type: Report   Reference: I-055995   Duration: 00:02:17  Lieu:
End production: 18/12/2007   First transmission: 18/12/2007

The International Light of Peace coming from Bethlehem was handed over to the European Commission on 18 December in Brussels. The ceremony was attended by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Member of the EC in charge of External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy; Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security; Meglena Kuneva, Member of the EC in charge of Consumer Protection; László Kovács, Member of the EC in charge of Taxation and Customs Union; Josef Pühringer, Minister President of the Land of Upper Austria; and by a representative of ORF. The 2007 peace message was "May the Light stretch far and wide, giving comfort, peace and friendship". The Light of Peace from Bethlehem campaign was originally organised by the Austrian Broadcasting Company ORF, and was part of a large charitable relief mission, "Light into Darkness", for children in need in Austria and abroad. Each year, a child from Upper Austria fetches the light from the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is then flown to Austria from where it is distributed to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of Peace, to their own countries for use at ecumenical services throughout the Continent.

Only the original language version is authentic and it prevails in the event of its differing from the translated versions.
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