Holy See ‘deeply concerned’ over Middle East situation
(Vatican Radio) The Holy See has expressed deep
concern over the current situation in the Middle East and reiterated its
support for a two-state solution in Palestine.
Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent
Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, made the comments in an address
to the Security Council.
Citing the “resent use of chemical agents in Syria” and the
“Palm Sunday terrorist bombings in Egypt”, Archbishop Auza said, “The Holy See
is deeply concerned with the current situation in the Middle East.”
He lauded Lebanon for “heroically” hosting millions of
refugees from neighboring countries and territories in conflict.
In addition to this burden, he said Lebanon is also facing
the threat of militias and armed groups operating within its territories.
Turning to the situation in Palestine, Archbishop Auza said,
“Since 1947, the Holy See has constantly supported the two-state solution for
the State of Israel and a Palestinian State to exist side by side in peace. The
Holy See wishes to reiterate its belief that the peace process between the
Israelis and Palestinians can move forward only if it is directly negotiated
between the Parties, with the strong and effective support of the international
community.”
He warned against “unilateral decisions, acts of violence
and inflammatory rhetoric” and said, “Pope Francis calls on both parties to
listen to the voices of dialogue, show goodwill and extend gestures of
encounter to give their peoples that peace for which their hearts deeply long.”
Please find below the full text of Archbishop Auza’s
address:
Statement of H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza
Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See
to the United Nations
Security Council Open Debate on "The situation in
the Middle East, including the Palestinian question"
20 April 2017
Madam President,
Some heinous acts of late have plunged some areas of the
Middle East further into violent chaos and new lows of barbarism. The recent
use of chemical agents in Syria once again constitutes a gross violation of
international humanitarian law and the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Palm
Sunday terrorist bombings in Egypt and the attack on fleeing refugees were
abominable attacks against innocent civilians gathered in prayer in sacred
places or trying to escape violence and as such were attacks against the very
foundation of human dignity and rights. My Delegation extends its sincere
condolences to the families of those whose loved ones have been slaughtered and
offers prayerful good wishes to those who survived the attacks and their
families.
Madam President,
The Holy See is deeply concerned with the current situation
in the Middle East. Lebanon is heroically bearing the burden of hosting
millions of refugees from neighboring countries and territories in conflict. In
addition to the impacts of this heavy burden, its stability is also threatened
by armed groups. In order to stabilize Lebanon, the Security Council adopted
resolutions 1559, 1680 and 1701, calling for the disarming of all armed
non-state actors. Yet militias and groups armed and funded by outside sources
remain active beyond the control of the Lebanese authorities. Parallel
situations exist in neighboring territories and countries, where terrorist
groups and other armed non-state actors operate, plunging the region deeper
into un-governability, persecuting ethnic and religious minority groups and
trampling fundamental human rights.
Madam President,
Since 1947, the Holy See has constantly supported the
two-state solution for the State of Israel and a Palestinian State to exist
side by side in peace. The Holy See wishes to reiterate its belief that the
peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians can move forward only if it
is directly negotiated between the Parties, with the strong and effective
support of the international community. Only sustained negotiations in good
faith will resolve differences and bring peace to the peoples of Israel and
Palestine. Leaders and citizens on both sides must have the foresight and
courage to make fair concessions, because an agreement would be impossible as long
as mutually excluding and impossible demands remain. There is no alternative to
a negotiated settlement, if both Israel and Palestine are to enjoy security,
prosperity and peaceful co-existence, side by side with internationally
recognized borders.
Pope Francis assures all of his efforts and prayers that the
deep wounds dividing Israelis and Palestinians may experience healing.
Unilateral decisions, acts of violence and inflammatory rhetoric can only
further deepen wounds, intensify hatred and widen divisions, making
negotiations more difficult and reconciliation more distant. Pope Francis calls
on both parties to listen to the voices of dialogue, show goodwill and extend
gestures of encounter to give their peoples that peace for which their hearts
deeply long.
Madam President,
Twisted religious claims mixed with irredentist ideologies
contribute to the bloodshed in the Region. Unimaginably barbaric acts are being
perpetrated supposedly in the name of God or religion. Ethnic and religious
minority groups who for millennia have peacefully coexisted with the Muslim
majority communities have been targeted by extremists. Their cultural and
historical patrimony has been destroyed, threatening to annihilate every trace
of their long-standing presence in the Region. The Holy See urges the
International Community, through the Security Council, not to forget them and
to intensify efforts to spare them from the genocidal scourge of violent
terrorist groups and other non-state actors.
The Holy See urges religious leaders to speak out forcefully
against such terror and to act to control effectively their followers who are
reprehensibly claiming to act in God’s name by means of terror. No religious
leader should tolerate using religion as a pretext for actions against human
dignity and against the fundamental rights of every man and woman, above all,
the right to life and the right of everyone to religious freedom. In this
regard, in February this year Al-Azhar and the Holy See held a discussion in
Cairo on countering the phenomena of fanaticism, extremism and violence in the
name of religion.
Moreover, the Holy See calls upon the arms suppliers to act
in accord with internationally agreed upon norms for weapons sales. The blood
of innocent civilians cries out against the unchecked flow of arms in the
Region. The Holy See cannot stress enough how much the disregard of treaties
that regulate arms trade and transfer contributes to armed conflict, crime,
acts of terrorism and the displacement of people, which, in turn, undermine
peace and security, stability and sustainable development. It cannot underline
strongly enough that the vast majority of persons adversely affected by armed
conflict and other forms of armed violence are civilians and cannot ignore how
often these weapons are used to attack civilian infrastructure like schools and
hospitals, water and food facilities.
Madam President,
My delegation wishes to close its remarks with the prayer of
Pope Francis after recent attacks in Egypt and Syria: “May the Lord convert the
hearts of the people who are sowing terror, violence and death” and “may he
grant the leaders of nations the courage they need to prevent the spread of
conflicts and to put a halt to the arms trade”. Pope Francis’s scheduled visit
to Egypt on April 28 and 29 would like to stress once again that there is no
greater antidote to violence and hatred than dialogue and encounter.
Thank you, Madam President.
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