Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Gregory III Laham reiterated calls for releasing the nuns from St. Thecla Convent in Maaloula along with all other people abducted by terrorists in Syria.

In an interview given to the Lebanese channel NBN on Saturday, Patriarch Laham said that the safest place for the nuns to be is their convent in Maaloula, saying any discussion of this is unacceptable, and adding that asking for bargains in exchange for the nuns\' release means that they\'re abductees.

He stressed that the nuns must be released unconditionally and delivered safely to Greek Orthodox of Antioch and All the East John X Yazigi.

The Patriarch said that armed groups should abandon their weapons and embrace dialogue, stressing that while destroying churches constitutes grievous harm, but the greater harm is allowing hatred, malice and vengeance to enter the hearts of people, adding "rebuilding churches and mosques is easier than building trust, love and solidarity."

He also demanded that the countries which sent armed groups to Syria take them back to wherever they came from, concluding by voicing hope that the ordeal of Syria will end soon