Belgian FM meets with Syrian Orthodox Christians

BRUSSELS, June 29 (KUNA) — Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders met in Brussels late Friday with representatives of the Syrian Orthodox community in Belgium. According to a Belgian Foreign Ministry statement, the delegation was accompanied by Father Samuel Gumus, Assistant to the Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Germany.

They discussed the situation of Christians in Syria and expressed serious concern about the fate of Orthodox Bishops of Aleppo, Bishop Yuhanna and Ibrahim Boulos Yazigi, kidnapped on April 22, 2013. On his part, Reynders underlined the necessity of protecting of all minorities in Syria, it noted. The Belgian minister also said that various steps were already taken in this regard and added that he was committed to continue contacts, especially during his upcoming visit to Turkey on July 1-2. He indicated that would contact the Turkish authorities and members of the Syrian opposition during the visit. (end) nk.gta KUNA 291342 Jun 13NNNN