Holy See follows with great concern events in Syria

(March 01, 2012) The Holy See Delegation has addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on the subject of Syria, at the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council. Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, expressed solidarity with the victims of violence and appealed for urgent humanitarian and medical assistance to relieve the sufferings of all those wounded and injured." He also called on regional and multilateral organizations to be involved in the crisis, stating they 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 welcomes the various initiatives in favour of peace through the path of dialogue and reconciliation. He added that we must not succumb to the logic of violence, where violence begets further violence. He told the members that the Holy See extends a hand of friendship to all the people of Syria, of whatever religion or ethnic background, confident that all Syrians share the same common values of dignity and justice for all regardless of creed or ethnicity. Syria has a long history of peaceful coexistence among her diverse religious and ethnic communities. He emphasized the fact that the primary responsibility rests with the people of Syria and for that reason he was renewing the Holy Father’s appeal to the Syrian people to give priority to the way of dialogue, of reconciliation and of commitment to peace.