Cypriot President urges Finding Political Solution to Crisis in Syria

NICOSIA, (ST)- President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus has stressed the need to find political and peaceful solution to crises in the Middle East, including the crisis in Syria.

President Anastasiades, who made the remarks during his meeting on Monday with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East John X Yazigi at the presidential palace in Nicosia, affirmed the deep-rooted relations between the peoples of Syria and Cyprus.

 On his part, Patriarch Yazigi asserted the need for serious efforts to lift the unjust economic siege which was imposed on the Syrian people and which caused more suffering to the Syrians.

He reiterated the importance of maintaining the unity of Cyprus, enhancing the sate of coexistence among all religions in the Middle East and abandoning terrorism and extremism. He also urged preserving Lebanon’s stability.

The patriarch pointed out that it is necessary to work as to guarantee the release of the abducted Aleppo archbishops Boulos Yazigi and Yohanna Ibrahim, noting that the two bishops have been kidnapped for four years amid complete international silence and in flagrant violation of human rights.

Hamda Mustafa