Yazigi: The international community can solve bishops' case

Patriarch of Antioch and the Entire East for Greek Orthodox John X Yazigi held a press conference in Balamand Saturday concerning the abduction case of two bishops, calling on the international community to do some actual work for the sake of finding them rather than only offering sympathy for the situation of Christians of the East. The Patriarch warned that war has materialized into a threat to nations with possibilities for peace receding gravely. "The church asks international bodies to take proper measures to protect people, and asks countries to rise above their narrow interests." He expressed the church's surprise at the limited amount of information related to the bishops' file. "We consider the international community responsible for ending this reality. We hear this community lamenting the sad state of Christians of the East but we do not need this kind of consolation, what we need is genuine help in uncovering the fate of our brethren and we are certain that the international community, if it wanted to, could get to the bottom of this case." Yazigi censured all violations to freedom and all transgressions on human dignity. "The kidnapping of our bishop brethren is one of the many cases inflicted upon citizens, and we cannot continue to stand with our hands tied." The Church continues to hold on to its core principles and its roots in the region, according to the Patriarch.