The President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, extended the Greek people’s wishes for a peaceful New Year with progress and health to Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, in a phone conversation.
During their communication, the President of Greece conveyed the unwavering solidarity and support for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, which, once again, is called upon to fulfill its spiritual mission amid ongoing challenges in its long-standing history.
She emphasized the critical importance of respecting the human rights of all communities without exception, as well as the need to ensure the protection and safety of Christians. She underscored that Christians are an integral part of Syria’s historical and societal fabric.
Yesterday, 33 ethnic Greeks in Syria, along with their families were repatriated after a coordinated operation by the Greek state. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement stressing that “under the concerted efforts of the Foreign Ministry and the Greek Embassies in Beirut and Damascus, today, December 30, the mission of repatriating thirty-three Greeks and their families was successfully completed”.
Speaking to the Athens News Agency (AMNA), Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis highlighted Greece’s special attention to securing the safety of the Greeks in Syria and the Greek Orthodox community in Syria, as well as ending and reversing refugee flows. To this end, he announced initiatives for a more active European Union presence in Syria.
