Patriarch Laham's Easter appeal: Stop sending arms, terrorists to Syria

(Vatican Radio/Sana) Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has visited the ancient Christian town of Maaloula, which was recaptured from rebels last week. Assad's Easter visit to Maaloula highlighted growing government confidence in recent gains against insurgents around the capital and along the Lebanese border.

In his Easter message, the Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All East Gregory III Laham Patriarch Laham called upon the Arab and Western world to leave Syria for the Syrians and stop sending mercenaries, terrorists and weapons to it.

SANA agency reports the Patriarch said that “the time has come for everyone to realize that there is no winner in wars and that peace is the only solution”. He highlighted that the Syrians are the only side to determine their destiny and to select their president, government and constitution.

Patriarch Laham said that any Geneva2 or Geneva3 conferences must start in Syria because only the Syrians have the ability to restore security and stability to their country. He warned against the social threats brought on by the war on Syria as a result of extremist mentality, calling for establishing a Syrian cultural forum to confront these threats.

Assad's forces and rebels trying to overthrow him are locked in a civil war in which more than 150,000 people have been killed. Millions more have been driven from their homes during the 3-year-old conflict.