Last week, Sinn Féin's Seán Crowe met with Mother Agnes Mariam of the Cross, a member of the Melkites – one of the main Christian communities in Syria, according to TheJournal.ie.
While the TD relayed Mother Agnes' message that the Syrian conflict was "not simple as it is being portrayed by elements of international media," Crowe said that he believes the problem "can be resolved" despite being "very complex."
“It is good to hear from an independent Syrian voice with a perspective that we are not hearing from international media. The situation in that country is clearly very complex and the simplistic scenario of ’bad government, good rebels’ does not reflect its reality,” he said.
“Any analysis of the war in Syria needs to take account of the position of civilian the population and minority groups who are caught in the middle of this war.”
He added that the importance of providing aid and support to Syrian civilians.
“(The Government) can play a role in helping the Syrian people by helping broker a peaceful settlement to a conflict that is in danger of spiralling out of control and they should give every possible support to the reconciliation efforts of people like Mother Agnes Mariam,” he said.
Last week, Mother Agnes met with politicians in Leinster House as part of her week-long visit to Dublin and Belfast to raise awareness of the crisis.
The conflict, which started in March 2011, has claimed the lives of 20,000 people, human rights activists have estimated.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seamus60 | Aug 16, 2012, 08:39 AM EDT
SF should cease the old claptrap of being socialists. A term they now use far and between and only to suit a specific agenda. Next we will be hearing that the great peace envoys Gerry and Martin are going over to educate all the people of Syria. lol Simple fact is the Brits have backed the wrong horse yet again and have been well and truly outbid by funders like Saudi Arabia to the cause of extremist fundamentalists. All britian and America can hope for is a piece of the action when factions fight for domination.
seanomelb | Aug 13, 2012, 08:19 PM EDT
As one who doe's not believe in God I find his mention irrelevant in the scheme of things. Sinn Fein is the party of republican Irish workers. The Irish never had a labour party win an election(in it's own right) and the current Labour party have abandoned its principles and the Irish workers and aligned themselves with the extreme right. The people are leaving the labour party and favouring Sinn Fein. AS usual you have the cart before the horse. unfortunately your view is narrowed by your religious zealotry.
aloistmartin | Aug 13, 2012, 05:54 PM EDT
It occurs to me that there are some so Naive, as to see Sinn Fein as some kind of Reformed Big Brother, Protector, Body Guard ? Fooey !
aloistmartin | Aug 13, 2012, 05:51 PM EDT
Seanomelb@ Sinn Fein has already turned its back on the Republican Left as She drifts further, and further into the Labor Increment Center Left ! Do not believe we are all so Naive as to believe Sinn Fein has nothing more than Power and Party Bias on its mind. Pitiful Indeed, Seanomelb@ " the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty,[a] who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: "
mairint | Aug 12, 2012, 08:52 PM EDT
Thank you Dara Kelly for this expose. The reporting we see here in Australia idolizes the rebels who are determined to make Syria another Islamist only nation. If they succeed (please God they do not), it will be a disaster for the Christians that are still there. Islamist hatred reigns supreme when the Islamic Brotherhood takes over. Hatred empowers them. For generations Christians and Muslims lived side by side as neighbours. This recent version of Islam even promotes hatred between its own tribes. Once again thank you for showing the real victims of that war. No wonder the Christians are asking why the rest of the world says nothing.....
seanomelb | Aug 12, 2012, 06:28 PM EDT
aloismartin you're more to be pitied than laughed at.
aloistmartin | Aug 12, 2012, 06:14 PM EDT
If Sinn Fein has any intention of doing to Ireland, what Bashar Al Assad has done for Syria; They have lost their Political minds ! The World has Had Enough of Socialist Despots making a mockery of Marxist sociopolitical theory. Too many Bourgeois Republican Aristocracies ! ( The Swedish Monarchy ) Too many Fascist Pretenders ! The world is weary of the past,Oh, might it die or rest at last!
sparticusnorth | Aug 12, 2012, 01:03 PM EDT
is that a bloke??
WoundedKnee | Aug 12, 2012, 10:39 AM EDT
I'm no fan of Sinn Fein, but I commend Mr Crowe for throwing some light on the Syrian conflict in the face of nonstop propaganda from the US, UK etc.
Baggie68 | Aug 12, 2012, 10:31 AM EDT
Utterly disgraceful that the West is funding these Islamic fundamentalists.