Patriarch Yazigi Calls for Finding Political Solution to Crisis in Syria

NEW YORK,(ST)_Patriarch of Antioch and All the East  for Antioch  Orthodox Church   John X has called for finding a  political solution to the crisis in Syria, pointing out that what is happening in Syria is different from the logic and the ideologies of the  Syrians.

In a  news conference  at the  UN premises after meetings with Deputy  UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson ,   UN  officials  and  the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin at the  Russia’s Mission headquarters , patriarch Yazigi said  that he got   assurances and promises to help in  solving  the crisis in Syria, expressing hope that  these  assurances  will be , “coupled with deeds” and resorting to “reason and wisdom” to resolve the issues because it is in  no one’s interest to destroy the homeland and peoples to be displaced.

Yazigi wondered from  “where Daesh  terrorist organization gets money and arms “, stressing that real Islam refuses incitements organizations.

“Christians and Muslims are combined up  with each other  in one spiritual family and no one can imagine the East without Christians,” Patriarch Yazigi  added,  stressing that “the Christian message in the Middle East  is the message of peace,” pointing out that he received  an  invitation from  al-Azhar University to participate in a conference on extremism and he fielded a Bishop to represent the Orthodox community, because he is  unable to attend , being in a visit  to the  USA.

He expressed surprise over certain  countries  silence over the kidnapping of Bishops John Abraham and Paul Yazigi who  were abducted by  terrorist organizations in rural  Aleppo.

Patriarch Yazigi  also stressed the importance of co-existence and acceptance of others to build safe homelands  and  live in peace.

T. Fateh