Patriarch Lahham: Western Sanctions are Crime against the Syrians
PRAGUE,BEIRUT,(ST)_ Patriarch Gregorios III Laham , Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Melkite Catholics stressed that ” finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria will be the key to peace and stability for the whole Middle East .”
Patriarch Lahham added at a news conference in Prague yesterday that “there is a serious desire among Syrians for reform and change and that they are capable of creating a unique and appropriate democratic model that suits them without external interference .”
The Patriarch continued that ” outside interference complicates matters and makes the situation more difficult,” pointing to the presence of some 2000 armed groups, which are very difficult for anyone to control.”
He called on the European countries to play a positive and constructive role in Syria and abandon the policy of embargo and sanctions , describing this policy as a ” crime against the Syrians,” and that the Syrian people are the ones, affected by its results.
He continued ” that Syria has always been open to the world and of a long history in the national harmony ,” adding that what is seen now of acts of killing , cutting heads and ,grabbing the hearts and other barbaric practices are not Syria ‘s history .
The Patriarch criticized the performance of some international media , which do not write objectively about Syria , noting that prominent British journalist Robert Fisk described the war in Syria as the most false and deceptive among wars .
He stressed that what is happening in Syria is a war on Syria , describing what happened in Maloula and Saddad of looting and assault as a shame for humanity.
Patriarch Yazigi thanked Russia stances towardsSyrian people
For his part, Patriarch John X Yazigi , of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox Church expressed thanks and appreciation to the position of ” Russia , people, Church and Government towards our people in Syria , in the emphasis to adopt dialogue and the peaceful resolution to eliminate the ordeal in Syria .”
Yazigistressed in a meeting in Balamand in Lebanon with the Head of Foreign Relations department in the Russian Church Metropolitan Helarion the need to pursue efforts to free the two kidnapped bishops BoulosYazigi Metropolitan of Aleppo and Iskenderun and its surrounding for the Greek Orthodox Church and John Ibrahim Metropolitan of Aleppo for the Syriac Orthodox church. The two sides reviewed bilateral relations between the two churches and ways of strengthening them .
T. Fateh