By Holy See Mission
Intervention of H.E. Archbishop
Francis Chullikatt
Apostolic
Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations
in the
Security Council
Open
Debate on the Middle East
(New
York, 23 July 2013)
Madam President,
Allow
me to congratulate you on the assumption of the presidency of the Security
Council and to thank you for convening this meeting.
Madam President,
The
Holy See, repeatedly, has voiced its urgent concern for the peace and welfare
of all the peoples in the Middle East, regardless of their ethnicity or
religion. Pope Francis, in his first Easter message on March 31st
this year, appealed for “peace for the Middle East, and particularly between
Israelis and Palestinians, who struggle to find the road of agreement, that
they may willingly and courageously resume negotiations to end a conflict that
has lasted too long. Peace … above all for dear Syria, for its people torn by
conflict and for the many refugees who await help and comfort. How much blood has been shed! And how much
suffering must there still be before a political solution to the crisis will be
found?”
Madam President,
Given the extreme seriousness of
what has been unfolding in Syria, especially during these past few months, my
delegation wishes to focus its remarks today on the unbearable suffering of its
people.
The whole world has been shocked
by the ever increasing statistics describing the dire humanitarian situation in
Syria. The tragedy of such an intolerable situation demands from us immediate
measures to assist some 1.8 million refugees (almost 10% of the population of
Syria) who now seek peace, security and safety in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey
and Egypt. Further, there are over 4 million IDPs, constituting nearly 18% of
the population. 6.8 million victims of this conflict
require urgent humanitarian assistance, half of whom are children. More
than four million people have lost their homes. Moreover, the challenges faced by neighboring
countries in assisting and protecting refugees appear to contribute to further
political destabilization in the region. Countless have been wounded and are in
need of medical attention which, because of damaged infrastructure, is becoming
increasingly difficult to provide. Much needed medications are not available
for those with chronic diseases and those in pain. And of course, the saddest
figure of all is the growing death toll, nearly 5.000 per month since last
March. At this rate, there could be over 100,000 deaths by August.
Madam President,
On its political side, this
destructive conflict is only being exacerbated by outside influences and
extremist groups which see it as an opportunity for political or ideological
gains rather than as an appalling disaster that is engulfing Syria. The
tragedies and killings of groups and individuals have been widely reported and
rightfully condemned. Today, while recognizing that the conflict has negative
repercussions for everyone, my delegation would like to bring to the
international community’s attention the devastating impact the conflict has on
Syria’s Christian population, a population which in its various traditions has
been present in the country for 2000 years.
These days the Christian
community faces numerous challenges for its very survival in the region. On one side Christians face ideological
extremist groups which seek to eradicate them from the region and on the other,
continued insecurity for the families and their homes as they are left to fend
for themselves. The murder of the priest
François Murad is just one of the many heinous acts in a long series of kidnappings
of Christians, including bishops and priests and the gruesome killings of
innocent civilians. Christians have also witnessed over 60 of their churches
and affiliated institutions destroyed. In many cases, they have had to seek
ways and means in the midst of dangerous and life-threatening circumstances to
safeguard their treasured sacred objects and priceless manuscripts and
artifacts witnessing to their bi-millennial tradition and culture which
constitutes a veritable world heritage of outstanding universal value for the
whole of humanity.
Madam President,
These pertinent remarks are not
indicative of any lack of concern on the part of the Holy See for the suffering
that afflicts each and every Syrian citizen, regardless of religion or
ethnicity. Rather, they are a fitting expression of the solicitude of the Holy
See for the whole Christian family, and of what should be the serious
apprehension of the entire world about the overlooked fate of so many thousands
of victims, including Christians as well as other ethnic and religious
minorities, who find themselves ruthlessly targeted in that conflict for no
fault of their own, and now, caught in the cross-fire, are struggling for their
very survival. My delegation is convinced
that there can be no social progress and no justice without according religious
and ethnic minorities their rightful place as full members of society.
Madam President,
The persistent refusal from both
sides in this conflict to engage in a meaningful political dialogue to build a
reconciled Syria augurs only for more deaths, fear, hatred and destruction. As
has been restated many times in this Chamber and in other international fora, there can be no military solution
for the Syrian conflict! Regardless of this, parties to the conflict manifest
determination, with total impunity, to shed yet more blood, to supply yet more
weapons, and to destroy more lives before they can be brought to the
negotiating table.
War can never more be considered
a means of resolving conflicts. Yet war, when it occurs, can only be won
through peace; yes, peace won through negotiations, dialogue and
reconciliation. It is my delegation’s hope, therefore, that the international
community can find courage to reconcile its differences and show the needed
political determination to pave the path to the much-awaited Second Geneva
Conference, so as to help all parties to the conflict rediscover the
indispensable path of dialogue with a view to reaching a concerted and
negotiated solution. “This dialogue also
demands of the parties involved the ability to question themselves and to
oppose effectively situations of injustice or domination that give rise to
sentiments of hostility or hatred in peoples”[1].
My Delegation commends every
effort towards this purpose and calls upon all parties with responsibility to
desist from hindering the long overdue negotiated settlement to this conflict.
Peace in Syria makes us all winners, whereas enduring conflict surely
guarantees only losers.
Thank you, Madam President.
[1] John Paul II, Address to Ambassador Siba Nasses of
Syria to the Holy See, 15 May 2003.
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