There is a chance for peace in Syria, if an observer like Kofi Annan “can listen and enter into the psychology of the Syrian people,” said Franciscan Father Joseph Nazzaro, Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo, to Vatican news agency Fides.
The Vicar sent an appeal to the guest of the United Nations during this turbulent time in Syria: “Come to truly enter into the issues, without prejudices and without bringing pre-packaged solutions. If this cannot happen, nothing will be resolved.”
“Annan’s visit,” explains Father Nazzaro, “holds a real chance for peace if the leader is able to enter into the psychology and the life of Syrian people.
The key will be to listen to the government, its opposition, society, and minorities, without the influence of external forces and pressures from other states.”
“Analysing the overall picture, the Syrian issue - still - is necessarily part of the context of the Middle East and its recent changes.
The situation in Syria is not new, but its roots are ancient. In dealing with this situation, history, culture, and the expectations of an entire people need to be taken into consideration.”
“Every country has something that can be improved: the West can help correct and improve Syria without imposing its own ideology, but instead allowing a consciousness to mature. The West must understand this by entering into the Syrians’ state of mind. We cannot think only of economic, trade, and geopolitical interests,” notes the Vicar.
As a Christian community, which in Syria represents 8% of the population, “we are living through this difficult time, waiting and praying.
Syria has, up until this point, given us assurances, preserving Christian communities, in practice and in compliance with the faith.
Syrian Christians are afraid of a future that could lead to suffering and persecution: look what happened in Iraq or Egypt.
Our hope is a national reconciliation and a pacification of the country, respecting the rights and dignity of every human being.”