Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs receives historic letter regarding Aramean survival in the Middle East
Geneva, 2 March 2015
During the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council, the International Conference on the Situation of Christians in the Middle East took place. The conference was convened by the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society and UN Member States Russia, Lebanon and Armenia.
At this conference the WCA briefly met with H.E. Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and presented him a two-page historic letter titled "Urgent Appeal to Russia as the Single Leader and Protector of Eastern Christianity." One paragraph reads:
"Mr. Lavrov, given the recent radicalization and destruction of the Middle East, the Christians are in desperate need of global political leadership and support. We believe that the survival of the Aramean Christian population in the East and its own Diaspora will only be achieved through a new nation for these people. This is a formidable and somewhat controversial request to consider, but not an unrealistic or untimely one."
“You can always count on our support!”
H.E. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva, expressed his satisfaction with the WCA's work: "You young people are doing fantastic work for your people at the UN. Keep fighting for your rights and you will achieve your goals sooner or later." The apostolic nuncio expressed his wholehearted support for the WCA and its activities.
Last year, the WCA co-organized an important event on Syria and Iraq with the Holy See Observer Mission [click here].
The WCA delegation was accompanied by Mr. Melki Toprak, Chairman of the Federation of Arameans in Switzerland, and his advisor Mr. Tony Ürek.
