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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS -In response to Ammon reports about the Arab-Orthodox parishioners protesting, in front of the Prime Ministry, against the "intransigence of the Greek Patriarchate represented by Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Greek Orthodox as the latter failed to perform his mere duties toward the church and the parish by the laws and regulations of the Orthodox Church."

Ammon received the following letter from the Greek Ambassador:

I was astonished to read in today's article of your esteemed site
a continuous reference to the Greek nationality of the Greek - Orthodox
Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theofilos III, in such a climax as to refer
even to "the history of the Arab Orthodox objection against the Greek
Presidency".

I would therefore like to make the following remarks:

- I consider it incorrect to critisize the policies of religious leaders,
positively or negatively, on grounds of their nationality, leading to
a distorted perception by your readers. I did not read anywhere for example
that the Pope, which in a few days will visit Jordan, follows good or bad policies,
because he happens to be Argentinian!

- In the precarius moments that we all live in the Middle East, I believe
it would be wiser to promote through your articles unity, tolerance and peaceful
coexistence for all citizens, to the benefit of all and especially of our children.

Relations between Greece and Jordan have been always excellent in all levels and
we continue to work towards upgrading them in all fields.

Thank you for your attention.

Maria Louisa Marinakis
Ambassador of Greece



Commentary:
The Ambassador's letter did not address the concerns of the protestors. Arab Orthodox are dismayed by the decision of the " Greek patriarch Theophilus to establish a bishopric in the State of Qatar, surpassing the geographical boundaries of Patriarchate of Antioch. They demand the "ending all forms of intimidation against the Arab clergy like the Archimandrite Christophoros Attallah." Interestingly, the Greek ambassador did refer to the fact the Pope is Argentinian, reminding us that for a long time, the Papal seat was not occupied by Italians only.