Tutu on Syria: We need to talk not fight

A woman with the words "hands off" painted on her face takes part in a protest organised by the Stop the War coalition across the road from the entrance of Downing Street in London.

A woman with the words "hands off" painted on her face takes part in a protest organised by the Stop the War coalition across the road from the entrance of Downing Street in London.

Published Aug 29, 2013

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Johannesburg -

The crises in Syria and Egypt require human, and not military intervention, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Wednesday.

“Those who selfishly wield economic, ideological and religious power cannot continue to subvert the interests of the majority of ordinary and well-intentioned members of our human family,” he said in a statement.

“We need to talk to avoid further bloodshed, not to fight. We need to speak about uncomfortable things, such as the relationships between so-called Western countries and the Islamic world, and between Israel and Palestine.”

He said there was a need to develop and understanding of each other rather than the ability to hurt one another.

“Only if we talk will we learn to trust one another sufficiently to be able to develop appropriate collective responses to the crises that afflict us.”

Tutu said that invading Syria might lead to the capture or killing of President Bashar al-Assad.

“It may lay the foundations, eventually, for a better life for the Syrian people, but it may also precipitate a general escalation of tensions and violence in the Middle East, and it will surely not contribute to the sustainable improvement of relations, or security, on earth.

“It is not worth the risk,” he said. - Sapa

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