wfn.org | NCC Delegation Meets With Syrian President Bashar Al Assad

["Carol Fouke" <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contacts: Carol Fouke in New York, 212-870-2252/2227
Jim Wetekam with delegation: (011) 4-4787-635-8534
E-mail: news@ncccusa.org <mailto:news@ncccusa.org>; Web: www.ncccusa.org
NCC4/21/2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC DELEGATION MEETS WITH PRESIDENT BASHAR AL ASSAD,
OTHER SYRIAN LEADERS DURING PEACE AND PASTORAL MISSION

By Jim Wetekam*

April 22, 2002, DAMASCUS, Syria - In a wide-ranging meeting lasting over an
hour and a half, a delegation of American church leaders today openly
exchanged
convictions and questions with President Bashar Al Assad of Syria at his
Presidential palace.

The conversation covered religious issues of Muslims and Christians, as well
as political issues, including the current situation in Palestine and
Israel, Syria's place in the peace process, U.S.-Syria relations, the
activities of Hezbollah, and the protection of holy sites like the Church of
the Nativity. In addition, the President offered a philosophical discussion
and context for the conditions that can create peace.

The American delegation is composed of fourteen leaders invited to
participate as part of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the
U.S.A. (NCC). The NCC undertook the April 16-27 mission to Turkey, Lebanon,
Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel at the request of Rev. Riad Jarjour, the
General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches, who is traveling
with the group.

While in Syria (April 21-22), the group also spent extensive time in
conversation with His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, head of the
Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East. The group met, too, with
His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of
Antioch and All the East. In addition, the Minister of Religious Affairs
hosted a lunch that included many Muslim and Christian leaders from
Damascus.

In his time with the delegation, President Assad asserted the need for the
U.S. to recapture a strong leadership role in bringing peace in the current
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a point he had made to Secretary of State
Powell during Mr. Powell's brief trip to Damascus last week. Citing an
emphasis, as have other Arab leaders, that the 35-year-old Israeli
occupation of territories seized remains the crux of the problem, the
President observed, "All these [past] wars did not create as much hatred and
resentment as people have today. Through all these years and wars and
massacres, the Arabs generally, and the Palestinians particularly, were
searching for hope. ...[Now] the only hope [Palestinians] can have is that
the United States will impose a solution consistent with the U.N.
resolutions."

Yet, President Assad expressed his own continued frustration with U.S.
actions. Speaking of U.S.-Syria relations, he declared, "The American
Administration comes to us when there's a problem in Israel; otherwise, they
don't come." President Assad said that he had delivered this same message to
Secretary Powell. Praised as a world leader who immediately condemned the
September 11 attack on the U.S., President Assad stated that he was
nevertheless disappointed that the attack had shifted U.S. foreign policy
toward the Middle East from a political emphasis to a terrorist issue.

A member of the American delegation reflected upon the group's meeting with
the President: Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim, Patriarchal Vicar of the
Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church for the Eastern United States and
a native of Syria, commented, "He showed that he has really related to the
daily life of the people - that he's not just sitting in the palace, that
he's not ignorant of what's going on." Archbishop Karim continued, "He
should at least be heard in the West, not snubbed. The U.S. media often
refer to him as young or immature, but we saw instead a well-informed,
mature, polished head of state."

A few weeks ago President Assad was widely hailed for a strong presentation
at the Arab Summit in Beirut. The American delegation was struck, too, by
the clarity of his thought and his willingness to discuss issues not only in
a political context but also in theological and philosophical terms.

President Assad reminded the delegation of its role in the Middle East
conflict: "The concept of peace is not very mature in the minds of people
and it's here that persons of religion...should step in." The NCC delegation
moves to Jordan (April 22-23) and then steps next into the West Bank and
Israel (April 23-26, departing April 27).

-end-

*Jim Wetekam, Media Program Director for Churches for Middle East Peace, is
a member of the NCC delegation.