In an interview with the German Newspaper “Berliner Zeitung” Following the Earthquake Which Struck the Region
The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Calls for the Lifting of Sanctions on Syria
Eine Straße in Aleppo nach dem Erdbeben - AFP
Following the catastrophic earthquake that struck the north of the Middle East, the German newspaper, “Berliner Zeitung”, made an interview with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, in which he called for the lifting of sanctions on Syria, highlighting the MECC relief mission in supporting the affected and afflicted people by the earthquake.
The interview was made by the German journalist Dr. Michael Maier, and was published in German on the website of “Berliner Zeitung”: https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/wirtschaft-verantwortung/christliche-kirchen-fordern-ende-der -eu-sanktionen-gegen-syrien-li.315264.
You can find below the English version of the interview.
After the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey, the Secretary General of the Beirut-based Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Michel Abs, calls for the immediate lifting of EU sanctions against Syria. The economist and sociologist, who belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, told the Berliner Zeitung: “For years, the sanctions have hit the population hard and not the ruling groups. Because of the sanctions, we had problems channeling funds to our projects in Syria and the earthquake aid may not arrive in Syria either, because we cannot transfer funds from Lebanon to Syria. People suffer from poverty, hunger and diseases. It is inhumane that we cannot help the people.” The Middle East Council of Churches comprises about 30 churches and ecclesial communities, including Catholics, Orthodox, Eastern Churches and Protestants. It includes all the churches of the Middle East. Among other things, it is connected to all major Christian churches in Europe and Northern America.
The MECC has been criticizing the EU's draconian sanctions against Syria for years. Abs: “People suffer massively and die. We cannot send medicines or essential supplies to our brothers and sisters because of the sanctions. As the government of the economically strongest country in Europe, the Federal Government of Germany must work to ensure that the sanctions are lifted immediately.” Abs emphasizes that the MECC does not engage in any political activity, that it keeps a strict distance from all political players and also does not want “any political connotation” connected to the call for help. “We must not mix politics and humanity: the people in Syria have great difficulties buying building materials and other important things – how is reconstruction supposed to succeed there?” asks Abs. He refers to Turkey: “There you can see how good are its Rescue efforts and help work when there are no sanctions. The people in Syria, on the other hand, are in a hopeless situation.” Abs says the West must recognize that Syria is opened to the West and does not see itself as an enemy: “We have the highest regard for the West, we their languages, we share their art and culture. We cannot understand that the West keeps invoking Christianity and the Bible and then simply abandons an entire people. That's not Christian!" Abs assures that the MECC and the churches in Syria can guarantee that the help will actually reach its destination: "We provide audited reports and complete documentation of all donations." There are still a million Christians living in Syria, and they also want to stay in Syria. A massive flight movement is in nobody's interest. But in order to prevent Syria from depopulation, the living conditions for the people in Syria would have to change.