ATHENS, 13 MAY 2021. I.A.O. STATEMENT ON THE EVENTS IN JERUSALEM
The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O.) expresses its deepest sorrow over the tragic events taking place in the Holy City of Jerusalem, which resulted in an outbreak of excessive violence, the loss of human lives, including women and children, and extensive property damage.
The I.A.O. unequivocally condemns all forms of violence, no matter where it comes from, and calls for its immediate de-escalation and resolving of tension in the region.
The I.A.O. calls all parties engaged to refrain from any acts of war and in general, any acts of violence, serving only to increasing casualties in the region for the last decades, while widening the breach among people, thus eliminating the vision for peaceful coexistence.
The I.A.O. calls on all religious leaders in the region to constitute the enlightened facilitators of political developments, contributing substantially, through reason and action, to the immediate achievement of ceasefire and to the consolidation of a stable and peaceful environment.
In addition, the I.A.O. is in agreement with the international community’s appeal, including the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC), to encourage the peace process in the Middle East region.
The I.A.O. calls on the international community to pursue an immediate termination to the conflict with greater determination and urge the parties to the conflict to sit down at the dialogue table.
Finally, the I.A.O. calls on the parties engaged to participate in a sincere dialogue, aiming to reach a final agreement, which will ensure a lasting and sustainable solution to the problem, for the benefit of peace and prosperity of Israelis and Palestinians, as well as of the entire Middle East.
