Patriarch Aphrem II: Neglect of global media of unilateral coercive measures exacerbates the suffering of Syrians

Damascus (ST): The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East held a reception in Damascus on the occasion of the new year for heads and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Damascus at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Damascus.

His Holiness Patriarch Mar Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the world, called in a speech on the heads and representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in Damascus to alleviate  the suffering of the Syrian people from the unilateral coercive sanctions imposed by the West on Syria , stressing that it ignores the international media reports on the suffering of the Syrian people as a result of these sanctions.

Patriarch Aphrem II thanked the heads and representatives of diplomatic missions for standing by Syria and its people and for the support of their countries for the steadfastness of the Syrians during the difficult period it went through, expressing his hope that they would contribute to lifting the unilateral coercive economic measures imposed on Syria as soon as possible, hoping that peace, stability, security and safety prevail in our country and the world as a whole.

The Vatican’s ambassador to Syria, Cardinal Mario Zenari, affirmed that the meeting  was a good opportunity to exchange views on contributing to alleviate the great suffering of the Syrian people, who were and still want reconciliation, peace and prosperity.

The Swedish Chargé d’Affaires in Damascus, Anne Desmoet, hoped that security and peace would soon prevail in Syria and that it would return to prosperity as it was.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Hungarian Embassy in Damascus, Saba Zubair, expressed the importance of concerted efforts of religious institutions, the local community and governments in creating opportunities to rebuild societies on sound foundations, especially those suffering from crises.

The Brazilian Ambassador to Damascus, Andre Santos, wished that the new year would be a year during which peace and stability would return to Syria and the world.

For his part, the Iranian ambassador to Damascus, Mahdi Sobhani, reaffirmed his country’s support for Syria and its support in every way, suggesting that the focus should be on lifting sanctions on the Syrian people instead of providing aid because whoever imposed the aggressive and terrorist war on Syria returned to impose an unfair siege on it and that the ambassadors should convey the voice of the Syrian people to the world.

K.Q.