European Syriac Union hosts dialogue symposium in Switzerland on Lebanon’s crisis and regional conflict

BADEN, Switzerland — In the Swiss city of Baden, the European Syriac Union (ESU) organized a dialogue symposium focused on Lebanon’s current situation and the recent regional conflicts. The event included the participation of prominent figures, including Ibrahim Mrad, President of the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP), who joined via Skype, and Nazira Goreya, External Relations Officer for the Bethnahrain National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB). Father Karim Asmar and members of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community in Baden were also in attendance.

The symposium opened with a minute of silence in memory of Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) martyrs. Nordin Kadoro, the local event coordinator, delivered an introductory speech, followed by Goreya, who addressed the current conditions facing the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people. She highlighted the work of the MUB institutions and discussed developments in North and East Syria.

The dialogue then turned to the intensifying political and military tensions in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and the impact on Syriac communities in southern Lebanon.

Ibrahim Mrad, also head of the Christian Front, joined the conversation remotely, emphasizing Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon’s destabilization. Mrad underscored the need to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon and aims to restore stability for all Lebanese citizens.

The symposium concluded with an open discussion, where attendees shared questions, insights, and reflections on the topics covered, enriching the dialogue on Lebanon’s crisis and broader regional challenges.