Patriarch: Syrian people should decide their own fate

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East Mor Ignatius Aphrem II said the Syrian people are the ones who decide the fate and future of their country, reported Syria’s state-run news agency SANA.

During a meeting with Governor of Hasaka Mohammad Zaal al-Ali at Mar Jacob Archbishopric in Qamishli, the Patriarch stated “The Syrian people are the decision maker. We refuse any external proposals or foreign interference, and any action that might affect the national unity and the components of the society is rejected.”

Al-Ali, for his part, expressed appreciation of the role of the Muslim and Christian clerics in facing the subversive and extremist thoughts and promoting national unity.

Earlier in July 2015, the Patriarch met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, where the president confirmed that the terrorist aggression, stemmed from the Takfiri extremist ideology, is targeting the diverse social and cultural fabric in the whole region, particularly in Syria.

The delegation of the Holy Synod of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church headed by the pope for its turn explained that “Syria has been and will continue to be Home for all Syrians with various affiliations, and a sanctuary for all those who have faith in generous values of humanity despite of the vicious terrorist war currently waged against the country.”

Syria has been battered by foreign-backed militancy, which has made it a haven for Takfiri terrorists to come together as "ISIL". Apart from various forms of support for the so-called moderate militants there, Washington and some of its allies use "ISIL" as a pretext to carry out airstrikes in the country.Al-Assad reassured that “the key factor to challenge this radical terror ideology, which recognizes neither nationalities nor borders, is through adhering to the moral values espoused by all holly religions. These values are based on open-mindedness, tolerance and freedom of belief.”

Also in July 2015, the Patriarch urged the West to “stop arming and supporting terrorist groups that are destroying our countries and massacring our people.”

“If the West wants to do something about the present crisis, the most effective thing would be to support local governments, which need sufficient armies and forces to maintain security and defend respective populations against attacks,” he said back then.

He said the majority of Syrian citizens support Assad’s government and have always supported it.

According to the United Nations [UN], the conflict had claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people, left over one million injured and displaced more than 7.3 million Syrians internally as well as compelled over four million others to take refuge in neighboring countries.

http://ahtribune.com/religion/397-patriarch-syrian-people.html