Patriarchs Appeal Halting Foreign Intervention in Syria

BEIRUT,(ST) _ Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the  Maronite Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai and Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for Greek Orthodox John X Yazigi  called on all parties to stop foreign intervention in Syria.

In a joint appeal , following their meeting  in Bkirki patriarchate , on Thursday , cardinal al-Rai  and Patriarch Yazigi  expressed regret  over the continued cycle of violence in Syria, calling on all regional and international parties  to refrain from indulging in the crisis in Syria and urging everyone to work for peace in order to  safeguard the history of Syria and its civilizational role  which dates back to centuries.

The two men of religion cautioned the Syrians to the need to adopt a political solution  through dialogue as they are bound to live together under the rule formula stemmed from inside Syria  rather than imposed on them from outside. 

They also called on the  kidnappers of  bishops Paul Yazigi Metropolitan of Aleppo and Iskenderun for the  Greek Orthodox and John Ibrahim Metropolitan of Aleppo of the Syrian Orthodox Church and other kidnapped on  the Syrian territory and the countries concerned  for   their release , expressing  hope to continue efforts for the release of kidnapped wherever they are and whatever the circumstances of their disappearance, in  honor for man  and to safeguard freedoms in our societies.

On the other hand ,Cardinal al-Rai and  Patriarch Yazigi  called on the Lebanese  people to continue providing  services to the displaced from Syria, “according to our customs and traditions” and by virtue of relations of brotherhood and kinship that brings people together,  calling on regional countries and  international community and institutions to assume their  humanitarian responsibilities towards those displaced and help the Lebanese state and people in ensuring their  accommodation until they return back home very soon.

T. Fateh