ANTELLIAS–Lebanon–His Holiness Aram I–Catholicos of the Great See of Cilicia Tuesday joined Lebanon’s spiritual leaders to call for an immediate cease fire and urge the international community to monitor the crisis more seriously.
The conference–which was held in Bekerkeh region of Lebanon–was attended by Christian and Muslim leaders and carefully examined the current military crisis afflicting Lebanon.
"This is the true Lebanon; this togetherness of Muslim and Christian Spiritual leaders concretely manifest the real image of Lebanon. This very meeting by itself is a living message. It is a message of the crucial importance of coexistence; it is a message of peace with justice; it is a message of compassion tolerance and mutual respect. In fact–violence is not the way to solve problems. Dialogue–mutual understanding and compromise based on justice and peace for all–is the most efficient way of dealing with complex issues and situations," Aram I told the press after the conference.
"Together with one voice in our joint declaration we appealed for immediate cease-fire and cessation of all hostilities. We expressed our full support to all actions and initiatives taken by the government of Lebanon. We emphasized the importance of the expansion of the state’s authority over all the territories of Lebanon. It is our firm expectation that international community and particularly the United Nations will act decisively to stop violence and help Lebanon to recover itself," added the Catholicos.