PATRIARCH: RUSSIAN MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN SYRIA SHOULD LEAD TO PEACE IN REGION
Interfax-Religiia, 30 September 2015
Patriarch of Moscow and all-Rus Kirill expressed hope that Russia's participation in resolving the Syrian conflict will lead to civic peace in the region.
"The Russian federation made a responsible decision about the use of the armed forces for protection of the Syrian people from the troubles caused by the tyranny of terrorists. We associate with this decision the approach of peace and justice in this ancient land," the patriarch's statement, which is quoted on Wednesday by the press service of the synod's Information Department, says.
"Wishing for peace for the peoples of Syria, Iraq, and other countries of the Middle East, we pray that the severe local conflict will not grow over into a larger war, that the use of force will not bring death to civilians, and that all Russian troops will return home alive," the primate noted.
He declared that the Russian church has frequently appealed to the leadership of Russia, other countries, and international organizations, urging them not to remain uninvolved in the sufferings of civilians in Syria and other countries of the region.
"We know, not from hearsay but from personal discussion with religious leaders of the Middle East, about the catastrophic situation in which people who have become targets of extremists and terrorists find themselves," the statement says.
The patriarch said that, with pain in their hearts, Orthodox believers have observed numerous cases of violence against Christians in the region, kidnappings and murders of bishops and monks, and the barbarian destruction of ancient temples, and "Muslims of these places that are sacred for representatives of all Abrahamic religions have suffered no less."
"Unfortunately, the political process has not led to any notable mitigation of the fate of innocent people and they need armed protection," the primate noted. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 September 2015)
CHURCH DECLARES THAT RUSSIAN DECISION TO USE ARMED FORCES IN SYRIA COMPORTS WITH RUSSIA'S SPECIAL ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST
Interfax-Religiia, 30 September 2015
The Russian church supports Russia's decision to use air force in Syria.
"This decision corresponds to international law, the mentality of our people, and the special role that our country always has played in the Middle East," the head of the synod's Department of Relation of Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, told journalists on Wednesday.
Pointing out that today the Russian government has taken onto itself a special role in the settlement of the situation in the Middle East, he noted that Russia cannot observe with indifference the current extermination of Christians and other social groups in the region.
The priest also reported that at a session on Wednesday in Moscow, the Inter-Religious Council of Russia adopted a statement in support of direct actions by the country in the struggle with terror in the Middle East.
"The struggle with terrorism is a sacred struggle, and today our country is, if you will, the most active force in the world combating it. Not because we have a selfish interest in this, but because terrorism is immoral" he declared.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Federation Council gave its consent to the president to use Russia's air forces in Syria. At the same time, the head of the administration of the Kremlin, Sergei Ivanov, emphasized in the Federation Council that the use of armed forces in the land theater of military actions has been ruled out; the military goal of the operation is exclusively air support of the forces of the Syrian government in their combating ISIL. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 September 2015)
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