Our neighborhood (the Middle East and the Russo-Ukrainian borders) is a boiling cauldron. The Great Powers (America, Russia, the European Union) bear responsibility, sometimes because they caused civil and religious wars and sometimes because they failed to prevent them.

In the Middle East, the Islamic State forced millions of people from various countries, mainly from Syria, to leave their homelands.

The Islamic State and Muslim fundamentalists persecute and hunt Christians. Many Christians are forced to leave their birthplace, either as refugees or as migrants. Of course, the Islamic State was defeated, but the Christians who remain are still suffering severely.

In some states, where moderates prevail, Muslims and Christians live together without problems. In other states, where fanatics prevail, other religious minorities suffer.

By contrast, Muslims living in Europe and America claim not only their religious freedoms, but also the right to have a separate "state" within the state where they live. In other words, fanatical Muslims do not tolerate religious freedom for others, while they themselves demand their own religious freedom when living in non-Muslim countries.

Muslims also refuse to integrate into the new state where they settle as refugees or as economic migrants. Yet they do not recognize the same right for people of other faiths living in Muslim countries.

It is proven that religion is the main factor that makes integration into another society difficult, where a different religion prevails. Of course, this applies mainly to fanatics.

The European Union seems not to have understood the developments in the Middle East. It seems to measure developments by its own European rational standards.

Greece, being geographically, historically, and culturally on the border between East and West, can better understand than other Europeans the situation in Turkey, the Middle East, and now Ukraine.

Greece is also the cradle of Orthodox Christianity. Therefore, it can support the peoples of the region in every possible way. But it can also receive them either as refugees or as migrants. If Greece welcomes Christian populations, it will not have a problem, since they can easily integrate into the country, provided of course they wish to settle there permanently.

The responsibility of the Great Powers (America, Russia, the European Union) was mentioned. However, Turkey must also be added. For some decades now, Turkey has followed a revisionist and expansionist policy. Not only against Greece but also against other countries. This policy and its alliance with the Islamic State have created thousands of refugees.

Turkey dreams of reconstituting the Ottoman Empire. Perhaps because until recently it was the favored child of the United States and Europe, primarily Germany. The United States and Europe struggle to understand Turkey's games, its arrogance, and its greed, which has now become hubris. Nemesis is inevitably expected.

Greece needs to make it a top priority to convince the United States and Europe of the dangers of Turkish expansionism.

Let us not forget that the Middle East is the cradle of Christianity. However, over time, after the rise of Mohammed, large populations were forced to change faith. Those who preserved their faith were tested and continue to be tested. Today, Syrian Christians are being tested.

In an era when religious freedom is a global value and a human right, protecting Christians is essential. Of course, it is not only the Christians of the region who need protection, but also Christian monuments and churches. Incidentally, the Patriarchates of Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria also need support from Greece.

By implementing a visionary foreign policy and a policy of Christian solidarity, Greece should accept Syrian, Ukrainian, and other Christian refugees/migrants. Should Messinia be at the forefront? Should the Municipality of Pylos-Nestoras be at the forefront of Messinia?

Paulos Marantos

marantosp@gmail.com