Syrian opposition groups meet in Rome, appeal for cease-fire
(July 27, 2012) Representatives of a dozen Syrian opposition groups on Thursday called
for a cease-fire in their homeland and the beginning of an internationally mediated
dialogue to bring democracy to the country. Meeting in Rome July 25-26, the groups,
which included some inspired by Islam, said they are "firmly opposed to any discrimination
based on religious confession or ethnicity." The 14 men and three women involved
in Syria's pro-democracy movements met under the auspices of the Community of Sant'Egidio,
a Rome-based Catholic lay group that promotes peace, dialogue and reconciliation.
"While violence is prevailing and on a rampage in our country," the political opponents
of Syrian President Bashar Assad felt "it was important to sit together and think
about a political solution," said Faiez Sara, a writer and member of the Democratic
Forum, who had been imprisoned for his political activities in Syria. He said it
was time to stop "the killings perpetrated by the regime or committed by the victims
of the regime who have taken up weapons." The opposition leaders signed their "Rome
Appeal," calling for a negotiated end to Assad's rule and the beginning of a transition
to "a Syria that is democratic, civil and safe for all, without fear and without oppression."
They also asked the opposition to participate in a political process to establish
a peaceful, secure and democratic Syria. Also on Thursday, the Catholic bishops
of Syria met briefly in Aleppo, which had been the scene of fierce fighting. Melkite
Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo spoke to Vatican's missionary news agency
Fides, urging the West to help the Syrian people by supporting and pressuring for
dialogue. The Catholic bishops have convoked a meeting of Syria’s Christian communities
on Saturday when they will pray for peace and discuss urgent questions such as protecting
Christians and providing humanitarian aid to all who suffer. Archbishop Jeanbart
said Christians, are afraid of "losing what we have obtained over the past 70 years
- a non-confessional culture, a pluralism that is a very precious good, . He said
the followers of Christ want to live in their country with full rights and obligations,
and expressed fear that a fundamentalist or Islamic theocratic government could come
to power.