(Aug. 22, 2012) People in Syria are "stunned and deeply saddened and worried for
the future," said Archbishop Mario Zenari, the Apostolic Nuncio to Syria. In an interview
with Vatican Radio on Tuesday, the nuncio said Monday’s withdrawal of U.N. forces
was a sad blow. Three or four months ago, there was a good bit of hope for their mission,
and now their departure plunges us back into this reality. “The international community
must not give up, it must keep trying," he said. U.N. military observers left Syria
on Monday, (Aug. 20) after it was clear the cease-fire they were meant to monitor
did not exist. The same day, U.S. President Barack Obama warned there would be "enormous
consequences" for Syria, if it began moving, or using its stockpile of chemical weapons.
Archbishop Zenari declined to comment on Obama's remarks, but said, "At this moment
we must require all sides in the conflict to rigorously respect international humanitarian
law which, as we've seen, has gone to pieces because of the actions of both sides."
While the 17-month-old conflict began as part of the pro-democracy Arab Spring movement,
Archbishop Zenari said, "Unfortunately, now there's the impression and the general
fear that things have gotten out of hand.” While the international community can and
must help, he said, Syrians are the ones who must ultimately decide to lay down their
weapons and start negotiating. "Finding a path to peace is a very difficult thing
that will entail sacrifices; it's painful, but it's something that no one can do for
the Syrians. We really need to encourage all ethnic and religious groups to find the
path to peace together," he said.