Patriarch Kirill’s congratulations to Bashar Assad on his re-election as president of the Syrian Arab Republic

June 2014

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russian has sent the following congratulatory message to Mr. Bashar Assad:

To His Excellency Bashar Assad
President of the Syrian Arab Republic

Your Excellency, Dear Mr. President:

Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on your re-election as President of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The people of Syria pin their hopes on you for overcoming the consequences of the civic confrontation, returning refugees to their homes and establishing a peaceful life in the country. They also expect from you the continuation of state reforms to secure the rights and freedoms for all representatives of the civil society, without which it is impossible to ensure the true freedom of conscience and faith. It is my conviction that conducive to it will be the unique experience of the Middle East region in peaceful co-existence of various religious communities, which has been accumulated by Syria through centuries.

I hope that you will continue developing historically good relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Antioch as well as other religious communities in the country.

I wish you physical strength and good courage and to the people of Syria I wish blessed peace and prosperity.

Respectfully,
+ KIRILL
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia