Vatican: Aid to Syrian people a priority

Below the text of the intervention presented by Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, Delegate of the Holy See to the League of Arab States, at the Friends of the Syrian People meeting held April 1^st in Istanbul, Turkey.

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants,

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Holy See at this Second Meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People. Since the first meeting, held in Tunis, the situation can hardly be said to have improved. Indeed there has been a most alarming increase in violence, with an indiscriminate use of force which has not spared inhabited areas, bringing about loss of lives among civilians and considerable damage to property. Therefore the appeal made by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, on Sunday 12 February, well before the meeting in Tunis, is unfortunately still relevant. His Holiness called for “an end to all violence and bloodshed”. I wish to repeat that appeal here, for the logic of violence, where violence begets further violence, is to be avoided at all costs. It is never too late to refrain from violence!

The victims of this violence must not be forgotten. The Holy See expresses its solidarity with them. Pope Benedict mentioned that he was remembering these victims in prayer, not only those who have lost their lives, including young children, but also “the injured and all those who are suffering the consequences of an ever more worrying conflict”. It is imperative that humanitarian aid reach all those in need and, for this, immediate access without restrictions must be assured. For this purpose cooperation with humanitarian organisations, both local and international, is absolutely necessary. I am happy to announce that the Holy See is making a financial contribution to this humanitarian aid.

Since the meeting in Tunis a ray of hope has come from the mission entrusted by the UN and the League of Arab States to former Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan. This mission can build on Syria’s long history of peaceful coexistence among her diverse religious and ethnic communities. Syrians share the same common values of dignity and justice for all regardless of creed or ethnicity. It is important therefore that the Syrian people should not lose sight of this heritage in trying to satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the different members of the nation. In this context respect for all places of worship takes on great significance.

Syria, no less than any other nation, is a member of the family of nations, and so the international community is right to be concerned for the peace and stability of the region. The Holy See remains convinced that regional and multilateral organisations are an important instrument in promoting peace and stability in the world, an instrument which is ever more valuable in times of crisis, and for that reason I renew the appeal of Pope Benedict XVI to the Syrian people “to give priority to the way of dialogue, of reconciliation and of the commitment to peace”.