SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
May 26 2007

Mufti Meets Catholicos Aram I & Archbishop Capucci

by H. Sabbagh, A. N. Idelbi
Saturday, May 26, 2007 – 06:10 PM

Damascus, (SANA) – Grand Mufti of Syria Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun met
on Saturday Catholicos of Cilicia for Armenian Apostolic Church Aram
I and exiled Archbishop of Jerusalem Hilarion Capucci.

During the meeting, they underlined Syria as the cradle of the three
monotheistic religions, pointing out to the important role of
clergymen in spreading the culture of dialogue and tolerance instead
of conflict and discord.

The Grand Mufti pointed out to the national unity manifested by the
Syrians on occasion of President Bashar al-Assad’s new constitutional
term referendum.

His Holiness the Catholicos said that Syria had taken in Armenians
and sheltered them, and that they have lived peacefully among its
people in dignity, adding that Armenians are Syria’s ambassadors to
the world.

His Holiness also pointed out that work has commenced on two schools
and a library for the Armenian Church in Aleppo and a church in
al-Qamichli.

For his part, Archbishop Capucci stated that Syria is the home of all
Arabs and the land from which Christianity emerged to spread peace
all over the world. He added that Syria is the land where Christians
live in dignity and freedom, affirming that Syria has prospered under
the leadership of President al-Assad.