Interviews :On the Pope 's visit to Damascus
Syria-Vatican, Politics, 5/7/2001

" the first time I have been in Quneitra was in 1975. I was very impressed by the destruction and the violence made by the Israeli troops against the city ," said German correspondent for " Frankfurter" Germany, Heinz- Joachim Fischer in a statement to Syria Times.

He said it is horrible to see all ruins, the sign of violence in the cemetery of the city, noting that the Syrian officers showed us during our visit to Quneitra heads of the deaths and the golden teeth of the dead were taken. He continued that since that time, 26 years ago, I think the Arab states and Israel must make new experiences and " I think the great lesson of these years is that violence can not be the right answer for the problem for this region, for the solution of the conflict in the Middle East.

He added: "In this respect I completely agree with the doctrine of the Pope oftenly repeated, which is the same everywhere that " you have to seek peace and justice and solidarity among people instead of violence, and this doctrine, the Pope has repeated in the years of his Papacy since the 1980 s. I have followed him in all the political crisis, and I will only mention the Falkland (war) between Great Britain and Argentina ."

Fischer commented as saying: "I think the Pope is right on the long term.. Violence is not the right way." Violence creates violence. And I think peoples in the Middle East have to do better things than wars, and the Pope said this message in Israel too, and he is waiting for a satisfying answer.

Fischer added that the Pope knows that he has no military force and only words, but he is trusting on the force of words like " Good seeds in earth which will bring good fruits, also after long time ," and the Pope gave good example for this peaceful evolution in Eastern Europe.

His speeches about the dignity of human person and the self- determination of the people will have realization as it happened in recent history like in Eastern Europe, Latin America, the collapse of Communism and the end of every ideology, which is against human person and the right of the people.

Fischer elaborated as saying that in front of the ruins of Qunietra "I remember the words of John Paul II .. This is the result of the culture of death but mankind needs the culture of love and peace, prosperity and development."

On the arrangements made by Syria on the visit of the Pope, Fischer said, the organization of the Pope's visit was very satisfactory, and especially "I am impressed by the kindness of people in the streets and the Souks, near the mosque and the tolerance also shown inside the mosque."

Replying to another question Fischer said: " I followed the Pope on several visits all over the world and ignorance and arrogance can be found every where. The atmosphere here in Syria, in an Arabic and Islamic country is extremely open minded, and this will be a success for Syria too. It helps to understand the Syrian efforts to build a new society."

Fischer concluded as saying:" I am convinced that the Pope's visit will help Syria also under the new President to find a better and more respected place in the world community of the nations."

Marie Czernin, an Austrian who works for the German Die Tagespost daily told Syria times that the visit of the Pope to Quneitra is a very symbolic and important message for peace in the world in general, especially in the Middle East. She said that it is impressive to see the Pope in such a contrast of the destroyed city and ruins of the Church, because usually one would rather see the Pope in beautiful churches.

She continued this visit of the Pope to Quneitra is a message for me as a Christian " I believe in resurrection after death, or therefore it is a sign of hope to see a Saintly person like a Pope in a destroyed Church. It is a symbol of suffering and of the Cross, but yet it is a hope of resurrection for the people of Syria and the whole Middle East, because Quneitra should be a place of reconciliation among the people of the Middle East, because geographically it is a very important position between the three countries which are in war ( Syria, Lebanon and Israel) and therefore I do not think it is right that only one country should instrumentalize this place with its message of peace which is for all the neighbor countries. She added this is because " we can only have peace if we are in peace with our neighbor."

She expressed hope that Israel who can now watch the Pope in Syria will remember all the messages gave to the country, which was a message of reconciliation. She continued that the Israelis should remember and recall in their memory what the Pope told them last year, which was not very different from what he says in Syria, since his message is all a message of peace and reconciliation.

She said that since the Pope is mainly a spiritual leader, he does not want to get involved in politics. He wants to be fair. He is above the political tension and that if the Pope makes a comment on politics, then it is not to get involved in politics itself but to give a moral lesson to remind the politicians of their moral and ethical responsibilities.

She indicated that the Pope does not take a political position for one country against another country, because he is the father figure of every one, and like a just father, loves his son who is sinning, still loves this son like his other children, noting that the Pope recalls the love of our Almighty God, because we are all the children of the God.

She added that the visit of the Pope will help Muslims and Christians to be more unified and also to respect each other and by the ultimate end to convey a message of love. The Pope also gave important message to the Christian churches to be more united.

On her impressions about Syria, She noted " I came to Syria four days earlier before the pope's visit in order to discover the country because it is my first visit to the Middle East and I was very positively surprised about the friendliness and hospitality of the Syrian people and this kindness of people you feel it sincere and coming from the heart ," noting that this helps to overcome certain prejudice if you do not the country. " She said:" Immediately upon I arrived in damascus, at the bust from the airport I felt welcomed and I was at ease and at home.

She noted that Syria's history is fascinating, especially the Byzantine art, the origin of Christianity and the Christian art in the old Churches. She added that she has visited Maloula, Sednaya and had a special love for the Orthodox Church, especially the Oriental aspect of Christianity.

She regretted that she has not enough time to visit all places and therefor she will come back to discover Syria.

Previous Stories:
  Pope arrives in Damascus   (5/5/2001)
  Pope John Paul II in Damascus today   (5/5/2001)
  The Pope to hold a mass at the Damascus Abbasids' Stadium   (5/4/2001)

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