Peace supporters conclude their visit to Syria

DAMASCUS, (ST)_ Following Five Days visiting Syria, the International Peace Supporters delegation concluded to the country.

In a press conference held today at DamaRose hotel Mairead Maguir, Head of the delegation thanked the people of Syria for their hospitality, apologized for not visiting some other areas in Syria due to security reasons.

Maguir delivered a statement during the conference as follows:

“Dear friends:

On behalf of the distinguished religious, cultural and intellectual leaders of twelve nations who came to Syria as Pilgrims of peace, I wish to express thanks to our host in Syria for their kindness, generosity and hospitality. I also wish to thank the tireless organizers who made this visit possible. I especially wish to thank Dr. Ahmed Khaddour, Mother Agnes Mariam and Dr. Declan Hayes for their central role in pursuing this project bringing it to fruition. I also wish to thank the Mussalaha organization for their support for this project and for their help. Many others made it happen, and I thank them all as well.

Our delegation comprises of diverse religious beliefs as does the nation of Syria. As his Excellency, the Grand Mufti Dr. Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun and his Beatitude, Patriarch Gregorios Laham have said, Syria is united in its diversity, and a major purpose of the peace pilgrimage had been to bring together a similar diversity in support of peace in Syria.

You have been very kind to show us you country, to let us speak to your people and to learn as much as possible about your problems and concerns, your wishes and desires, and your hope and expectations. We are saddened to see destruction, loss of life, fear of attack, displacement from homes and communities and other harmful effects of fighting in this beautiful and ancient country, the cradle of world civilization. Your heritage is the reason we have chosen to call this delegation of pilgrimage for peace, because Syria is a treasure for the entire world, and the source of its great civilizations and religions.

We have no doubt that the people of Syria are capable of solving their own problems and creating their own future, in order for this to happen, however, it is clear to us that interference from other nations must end, and especially from those nations who think it is in their interest to destroy Syria. Syria must not be destroyed, and we believe that the will and the strength and the resolve that we have seen in the Syrian people are greater than the terrible problems that face you country. However, if other nations continue to send arms and fighters, or to directly attack with their militaries: if they prevent Syria from exercising its sovereignty over its territory; if they impede the delivery of public services to some parts of the country, then the people of Syria will continue to suffer needlessly.

We have traveled this great country from Damascus to Lattakia and back. We have seen the damage and spoken to Syrians who are unable to live in their homes and have suffered unspeakable crimes committed against them. We have even experienced anattack upon our own location, where four people lost their lives. However, we have learned from the Syrian people, and we refuse to be intimidated, whether by force of arms or by those in the world that criticizes our efforts to support peace in Syria. We promise you that our solidarity with you is unshakable and we will return again and again until Syria is once again free from fighting, and until all Syrians are free to solve their problems amongst themselves and to determine their own future.

Finally, I wish to thank the Iranian people for also hosting our delegation so generously prior to our arrival in Syria. Their commitment to the Syrian people is truly inspiring, and has been demonstrated by the participation of some of the best and the brightest cultural and religious leaders of Iran in the peace pilgrimage. Although the people of Iran are also suffering economic duress from some nations that are oppressing Syria, they chose to demonstrate their solidarity with Syria by sending large amounts of aid, purchased with the individual contributions of thousands of caring Iranian citizens.

We promise that we will take the many messages from the Syrians people to our countries and that we will try to encourage our countries to follow the example of Iran in its support for the Syrian people. We are sure that if we are even partially successful. And that our countries will stop the flow of arms. Fighters and other interference in Syria, the Syrian people will be able to reach an understanding amongst themselves and resolve their difference in a national dialogue without the use of arms. We believe that Syria is created by Syrians and not by outside forces.

For this reason, we are determined to work for peace in Syria by asking our countries and indeed all countries to repect the integrity and sovereignty of Syria. All war end, and so will the fighting in Syria. But how many will die and how much suffering will there be before this happens in Syria? Ultimately the arms will be laid down and Syrians will pursue their vision with words and dialogue, not guns. We promise to do what we can to bring this day closer and we hope that our friendship with the Syrian people will help to make this happen.

May God bless Syria and all its people. “

It is worth to noting that the delegation, comprised fifty distinguished figures of twelve nations, arrived Syria on 10/04 coming from Iran, conveying humanitarian aid collected by the delegation for the Syrian people.

Ibrahim Zaaboub