Foreign Minister Avramopoulos contacts the Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius IV

Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos communicated by phone today with the Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius IV, with whom he discussed the situation in Syria.

Mr. Avramopoulos expressed Greece's strong solidarity with the Patriarchate and the Christian community in Syria, underscoring that the protection of religious minorities must be at the center of the efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis.

Mr. Avramopoulos briefed the Patriarchate on the relevant talks at the recent informal meeting of EU Foreign Minister in Paphos, where he had the opportunity to point up to his colleagues the need to focus on the protection of the Christian population in Syria.

September 11, 2012