Armenian Archbishop says Syria airstrikes not welcome

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, Boutros Marayati, says the air raids against jihadi bases in Syria, carried out by the United States with the support of some Arab countries, are not being welcomed by the local population, the Independent Catholic News reported.

“They don't see the bomber as liberators. People are afraid that this type of external involvement could worsen the situation,” he said.

The prevailing sentiment, according to him, is that the raids will not solve problems, and may even aggravate them. The uncertainty that everyone lives with every day is increasing all the time. Archbishop Marayati said fathers and mothers of families are just wondering whether it is still possible to stay or whether it would be better to try to leave the country,

Meanwhile, schools in districts of Aleppo controlled by the government have reopened. The Heads of Churches and Christian communities meet once a month - the next meeting will be at the weekend- to discuss the situation.

"We are staying here,” Archbishop Marayati said.

"And we are trying to support everyone to make sure that they will stay here too as long as it is possible. There is water only for two hours a day, and there is no food. Many go away. But there are also those who returned from Lebanon and from the coastal town of Lattakia, when school started again. Our only role in this situation is to try to bring to life the seeds of hope that bloom in the rubble,” he said.