Pope appears to support Syrian role in Middle East
14 Dec 2006 14:34:07 GMT Source: Reuters
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict appeared to back a greater role for Syria in resolving Middle East conflicts on Thursday, putting himself at odds with Israel, the United States and France. The Pope made his comments in an address to Syria's new ambassador to the Vatican in which the Pontiff defended Israel's right to exist within secure borders and condemned terrorism. "The world looks especially to countries with significant influence in the Middle East in the hopeful expectation of signs of progress towards the resolution of these long-standing conflicts," the Pope told the new ambassador, Makram Obeid. A report released last week in Washington by the Iraq Study Group recommended the United States engage Syria and Iran to bring about stability in Iraq. The White House has so far rejected such contacts and President George W. Bush renewed on Wednesday his criticism of Damascus, accusing Syria of human rights abuses and of trying to undermine Lebanese sovereignty. Leading Western powers have sought to isolate Damascus since last year's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut. Syria's critics accuse it of playing a role in the killing while Damascus denies involvement. France says Damascus cannot be trusted and there is no point in talking to Syria because the conditions for an honest dialogue do not exist. Italy and Germany have said Syria should be engaged in talks for resolutions of Middle East conflicts. Israel is firmly opposed and says Damascus needs first to cut its links to Hamas and Hezbollah, groups that seek the Jewish state's destruction. The Pope, who held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday, referred to the killings of al-Hariri and Lebanese anti-Syrian minister Pierre Gemayel in November. "The world looks on with great sadness at the cycle of death and destruction, as innocent people continue to suffer and targeted individuals and kidnapped or assassinated," he said. After Gemayel's killing, the Pope warned Lebanese to beware "dark forces who are trying to destroy the country".
