Secretary of State for the Hungary Helps Program, Tristan Azbej, also attended the talks.Continue reading
The international community has a duty to take action against the persecution of Christian communities in the Middle East, as the situation of those affected in Lebanon and Syria has deteriorated further in recent times, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Brussels on Tuesday.
At a press conference after the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Council, the minister said that the Middle East crisis was the first item on the agenda. The topic was justified, he said, because the dangerous situation in the region could have serious repercussions not only for Europe but also for world security.
Mr. Szijjártó underlined that the developments in Lebanon and Syria in recent weeks have increased the suffering of Christian communities, with many having to flee their homes. “This is of particular concern for us as a millennial Christian state. We have seen that one of the consequences of the bombing of Lebanon has been the mass displacement of Christian communities and Christian families from their homes,” he said.
Hungary will continue to support Christian communities in Lebanon, we will maintain our programs for the renovation of Christian churches, for the assistance to Christian communities and for the operation of Christian institutions,”
the minister stressed.
On the developments in Syria, Mr. Szijjártó pointed out that the Christian community in Aleppo has been present for two thousand years, although the number of Christians has significantly decreased. He recalled that
Hungary has been providing substantial support in the region through the Hungary Helps Program, including the ongoing reconstruction of the local hospital of the Syrian Orthodox Church.
“We stand in solidarity with the Christians in Syria, we provide them with continued support and we consider it simply unacceptable and scandalous that two thousand years old Christian communities are being driven out of the cradle of Christianity,” the minister noted.
Mr. Szijjártó pointed out that the international community has a duty to speak out and act on behalf of the Christian communities in the Middle East against their persecution. “Unfortunately the international community has failed to do so because of some misguided political correctness,” he said, adding that he had also raised this issue at the NATO meeting.
Via MTI, Featured image: Pixabay