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Isaac Barakat, Bishop of Apamea
As for the situation in Syria, you know about the whole situation from a variety of media.
We, Christians in Syria, do not represent any foreign object to Syria.
We, the Syrian Christians, have lived in this country for thousands of years.
We have always lived in peace and good neighborly relations with Muslims.
When reporters ask us what the situation in Syria is, we always say that the bombs and shells do not have eyes, they do not distinguish between Christians and Muslims. Anyone could die.
So all Syrians, not only Christians but also Muslims, suffer from the war that is going on.
I listened to your speech, Ms. Yelena, and all that was happening in Syria once again came up before my eyes.
I remember what happened in Homs. I will focus on the situation in Maaloula, because I was very concerned about this.
After the attack in Maaloula, on the churches and monasteries that are located thereů
You know that these are the oldest Christian churches. Mother Pelagia is the prioress of the monastery in Maaloula.
There are also orphans there. Many people came to Maaloula.
Now they do not have any food, water or medicine, because they are virtually isolated from the outside world, and it is very difficult to deliver the assistance needed to the monks and those orphans who are there.
It is now said that some regions in Syria are Christian, and some are Muslim; this is a new language that has appeared recently.
In Syria we have never divided these areas.
In our schools, both Christians and Muslims are learning.
There are so many Muslims who come to us to learn in our religious schools.
Only in the last three years have there were conversations about Christians, Muslims, the differences between them, it's a new language, it's a kind of a new reality that we have never had.