wfn.org | Greek Archbishop, Consul General Join Jerusalem Patriarchs in Plea

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

For more information:
Fr. Raed Abusahlia
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
P.O.Box  14152 - Jerusalem 97500
E-mail address: latinpat@actcom.co.il 
Personal e-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com 
Patriarchate's Homepage: www.lpj.org 

ALL HOLY PLACES SHOULD BE PROTECTED, LEADERS ASSERT

JERUSALEM, April 15, 2002--On the occasion of his visit to the Holy Land,  
His Beatitude Christodoulos, the Archbishop of Greece met on 11 of April 2002 
and  with His Beatitude Irineos, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, 
His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude 
Tourkorn Manogian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Very Rev. 
Father Giovanni Battistelli, O.F.M., Custos of the Holy Land.

These very high ecclesiastical dignitaries exchanged opinions on the current 
situation in the Holy Land, and expressed their deep concern and anguish over 
the prolongation of the ongoing conflict which resulted with an unprecedented 
loss of human lives and destruction.  They were joined by the Archbishop's 
retinue and by H.E. the Greek Consul General in Jerusalem, in the Greek 
Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem,

They concluded, out of their deep sense of responsibility, by addressing an 
urgent appeal to the political leaders of the two parties, assisted by the 
international community, for the cessation by all means of every kind of 
violence and hostility, for the restart of negotiations towards the 
achievement of a final, just and lasting solution of the conflict, which 
would guarantee between other things:

1. The peaceful and harmonious coexistence of the two peoples in conflict and 
of all the inhabitants of the Holy Land.

2. The protection of the Holy Places of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

3. The respect of the Status Quo of the Holy Places and the Christian 
Communities.

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