Archbishop Mario Zenari appreciates the efforts of the UN, Arab League and the opposition that emerged during the meetings in Geneva and Cairo. But world leaders and Syria must not get lost in the details. Priority: evacuate civilians from affected towns.

Damascus (AsiaNews) - "The international community must support all initiatives for peace and reconciliation of the Syrian people. The violence continues and there is no sense wasting time. There is every risk that the conflict will spread on a regional scale." This is what, Mgr. Mario Zenari, Vatican nuncio in Damascus tells AsiaNews following recent meetings between members of the UN Security Council, Arab League and Syrian opposition, held recently in Geneva and Cairo. Theme of meeting: implementing the peace plan of Kofi Annan and finding an agreement between the opposition movements.

"The priority - says Msgr. Zenari - is to stop the violence and all attempts to promote dialogue between the parties", and this despite the disputes between UN, China and Russia - which have emerged during the meeting in Geneva - and divisions within the Syrian political opposition. According to the findings of the Cairo meeting, which ended yesterday, the Syrian National Council and other opposition parties are struggling to find agreement on a future government of national unity that contains within it the former regime members. Archbishop Zenari notes that the Syrian and foreign leaders "are getting lost in the details", while the Syrian people suffer helplessly in the war between the Assad regime and the armed rebels of the Free Syrian Army.

For several weeks more than 1000 families of Homs have been locked inside the city while awaiting help. "Now - he adds - we must safeguard the minimum humanitarian conventions: an opportunity to heal the wounded and families to be evacuated from their homes." "In recent weeks - he says - I met with the authorities in Damascus to seek a solution to these problems. In Homs and other areas affected by fighting the Church is trying to mediate at least to ensure the evacuation of civilians. The government was willing to listen, but these good intentions must be put into practice on the ground. This also applies to the rebels. "

Citing the Pope's address to the Meeting of Reunion of Aid to Eastern Churches (ROACO) of 21 June, the nuncio calls all Christians to "pray for the Syrian people and a wisdom of hearts, that the Lord may enlighten the Syrian leaders to end this violence. "

 

 

• syria
• un
• arab
• league
• peace
• war
• assad
• nuncio
• zenari
• humanitarian
• crisis