“I ask Kofi Annan to resume his mission, we need him”: this is the appeal that Gregorios III Laham, patriarch of Antioch of the Greek Melkites, makes through SIR to the UN mediator for Syria, who resigned from his appointment yesterday, because of the lack of support and cooperation from the international community and the fighting parties. “We are very sad and sorry about such decision – the patriarch states –. We hope he can change his mind and continue his mission. In my opinion, Kofi Annan worked very well. We need all the help we can get to achieve reconciliation, a peaceful solution”. According to the patriarch, “Annan’s words placed emphasis on the difficulties of his appointment, which did not receive the help and cooperation that had been hoped for. Now, no one should shirk the responsibilities the current situation demands”. On its part, the Church “wants to be the carrier of hope. That’s why we are committed to prayer and to relieving and helping the population. On August 1st, we and our congregation started fasting, joining our Muslim brothers in their Ramadan. We pray for violence to come to an end, for solidarity to be brought back in, for all citizens to be friends. Together, we can rebuild a safe, renewed Syria”.

03/08/2012 -