ASIA/SYRIA-Appeal of the Greek Catholic Patriarch: a month of fasting and abstinence for peace

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - “Syria needs dialogue, not weapons” is the appeal launched by the Franciscans in Syria, through Fr. Romualdo Fernandez OFM, director of the Ecumenical Centre in Tabbaleh (Damascus) and Rector of the Shrine dedicated to the Conversion of St. Paul, in the Syrian capital. In an interview with Fides Agency, Fr. Fernandez points out that "the high road out of this crisis is dialogue between the parties. We ask everyone to agree to sit around a table and start a confrontation, which can prevent violence, deaths, killings and massacres, which for too long have been steeping our country in blood. "With regards to the last massacre in Hama, he says that “it is a tragedy, the news is confusing, truth is the first victim.” According to the friar, “if foreign powers continue to arm and finance the warring parties, the war will continue and victims will increase. This is not the way of peace: the road to peace is through dialogue.” As Christians, notes Fr. Ferenandez, “we are open to all our brethren, of every religion”; as a Franciscan, he repeats, “we are next to the population who is suffering, Christians and Muslims, and will never leave this country. We will stay in Syria, at the service of the Gospel. We were there yesterday, today and we will be there tomorrow, in peacetime and in wartime, in dark times and bright times. In the certainty that the Lord wants us here and we will take care of us.” ¶ (Agenzia Fides 13/7/2012)

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Mgr Mario Zenari pleads with the UN Security Council in New York. The situation can only get worse if the international community remains divided. Some 200 people die in another massacre in Tremseh (Hama).

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After the massacre of Tremseh, the UN secretary general tries to push the Security Council to take concrete action to stop the civil war. Russia and China oppose any resolution that involves new sanctions against Assad. Yesterday a further 118 deaths, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

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Mgr Mario Zenari describes the tensions residents face. For the past two days, the capital has been the scene of fighting between rebels and the Republican Guard, with 64 dead. The witness of nuns from Azeir monastery (Homs) is a sign of hope for Christians, Alawis and Sunnis.

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - Bombs, shootings, violence, screaming, deaths rage in the city of Damascus in these hours. People “suffer, hope, escape, pray and, in these tragic hours, turn their gaze to the Blessed Martyrs of Damascus, of whom on July 10 we celebrated the memory,” says to Fides His Exc. Mgr. Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus.The Archbishop describes the situation in the Syrian capital: "On the streets of Damascus you see people fleeing, there are refugees who, desperate, cross the city in search of a refuge. The lack of charity structures, the embargo and the limited resources available do not help to face this emergency and contribute to fuelling anxiety."In the sad testimony, sent to Fides, the Archbishop says: “In this period of mindless violence, our voices are drowned by the long ordeal of the country and by a complexity that is blocking any diplomatic solution. The country is sinking in sorrow and gratuitous violence and there is still no end in sight, we have been in a protracted conflict for more than sixteen months”. Mgr. Nassar stresses the serious practice of kidnapping: “Beyond the political divisions, unemployment and insecurity have favored the terrible phenomenon of people kidnapped for ransom. They are often abducted from school or factory. One should see the panic and anxiety of families struggling to collect from relatives, neighbors, friends and parishes a sum of money sufficient to save a kidnapped son, brother or father. This horrible practice paralyzes social life. We note that faith has weakened, children no longer go to catechism and pastoral activities languish. Many Christian families, terrified, think only about how to leave the country.”“The Christian community, exhausted - concludes the Archbishop - turns, in silence and prayer, to the martyrs, that on July 10 last year we solemnly remembered: the three brothers, Francesco, Abdel-Mooti and Raffaele Massabki, Maronite Catholic laity , blessed and martyred during the persecution unleashed by the Turks in 1860 against the Church. They remind us of what Jesus said: Do not fear.” ¶ (Agenzia Fides 18/7/2012)

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - Bombs, shootings, violence, screaming, deaths rage in the city of Damascus in these hours. People “suffer, hope, escape, pray and, in these tragic hours, turn their gaze to the Blessed Martyrs of Damascus, of whom on July 10 we celebrated the memory,” says to Fides His Exc. Mgr. Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus.The Archbishop describes the situation in the Syrian capital: "On the streets of Damascus you see people fleeing, there are refugees who, desperate, cross the city in search of a refuge. The lack of charity structures, the embargo and the limited resources available do not help to face this emergency and contribute to fuelling anxiety."In the sad testimony, sent to Fides, the Archbishop says: “In this period of mindless violence, our voices are drowned by the long ordeal of the country and by a complexity that is blocking any diplomatic solution. The country is sinking in sorrow and gratuitous violence and there is still no end in sight, we have been in a protracted conflict for more than sixteen months”. Mgr. Nassar stresses the serious practice of kidnapping: “Beyond the political divisions, unemployment and insecurity have favored the terrible phenomenon of people kidnapped for ransom. They are often abducted from school or factory. One should see the panic and anxiety of families struggling to collect from relatives, neighbors, friends and parishes a sum of money sufficient to save a kidnapped son, brother or father. This horrible practice paralyzes social life. We note that faith has weakened, children no longer go to catechism and pastoral activities languish. Many Christian families, terrified, think only about how to leave the country.”“The Christian community, exhausted - concludes the Archbishop - turns, in silence and prayer, to the martyrs, that on July 10 last year we solemnly remembered: the three brothers, Francesco, Abdel-Mooti and Raffaele Massabki, Maronite Catholic laity , blessed and martyred during the persecution unleashed by the Turks in 1860 against the Church. They remind us of what Jesus said: Do not fear.” ¶ (Agenzia Fides 18/7/2012)

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Milan (Agenzia Fides) – We are “at the beginning of the end for the Syrian regime.” “A new page of national history is about to open.” And the new Syria will be democratic, potentially lay, reconciled and free from oppression: is what George Sabra, a Christian, spokesman for the “Syrian National Council”, the representative body of the front of the Syrian opposition, says in an interview with Fides Agency. The spokesman reassured the Christian communities in Syria that their future will be guaranteed “in accordance with principles of democracy, citizenship and freedom.” Fides interviewed him at the eve of a meeting held today, July 18, in Milan by the Jesuit magazine “People”.George Sabra, how do you judge the Syrian crisis that has worsened in these hours?It is a critical stage. I guess we are at the beginning of the end for the regime. There are fierce battles in Damascus and the Syrian army bomb the neighborhoods of the capital. It is a regime, a minority occupying power, which makes war on its own people.How would you rate the efforts of reconciliation born in Syrian civil society, to rebuild a frayed social fabric?Reconciliation is very important, it is the way to national unity. We strongly support it, today and in the near future. We will do our best to prevent forms of violence in all parts of the country. We want to open a new page in the history of the nation and every member of society will be able to share and contribute to building the future of Syria. In the differences and pluralism, the Syrian people are united: we are all part of one people.What is the situation of Christians like in Syria today?I must say that, at the beginning, unfortunately, the churches did not believe in the revolution. Then there are hundreds of Christians arrested, like other citizens, for revolutionary activities: I was also arrested last year, with 14 other Christian members of my village. As months go by, the Christians have begun to share our ideals of the revolution in Syria and abroad. We want to clearly say that in the future there will be no danger to them.It seems there are Salafi groups and Islamist among the revolutionary fighters: How do you respond?On the one hand I can say that some reports are exaggerated: there are no groups allied with Al Qaeda. The Islamists are there, but we know them, they are part of our society and we know how to deal with them. They are in the Syrian National Council and have signed the “Damascus Declaration” (where the front of the opposition reiterates the principles of democracy and freedom, ed). Even the Muslim Brotherhood announced last month that they will accept non-Muslim members to the government and also for the presidency of the country if the people decide. It is a sign of good will on their part.How can you reassure the minorities? How can one guarantee that the new Syria will be a secular, democratic and free state, that will protect them?I believe that democracy is the only way that protects the majority and minorities. It is dictatorship that has oppressed the entire country, majority and minorities. We need to true representatives of the Syrian people to rule Syria. We reaffirm the concept of “citizenship”: all Syrian citizens in any community or belonging to any religion, are equal and have the same rights. As far as the secular state is concerned, I can say that, personally, it is a principle that I support strongly, and my party supports. But it will be the Syrian people to choose what to write in the Constitution. We will fight, in the political arena, for the principle of a secular state, but the decision will be up to the people and must be respected.What is the role of Christians in the new Syria?The role and status of Christians will be the same they lived in the past democratic Syria: I mean the middle of last century, when we had a Christian Prime Minister and a Christian President in Parliament. Democracy gives to minorities, and therefore the Christian community, the opportunity to show their ability, their specificity, their attachment and their contribution to the country.What are your hopes for Syria?We have suffered too much in the last 40 years. We now hope for a free Syria. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 18/7/2012)

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Contradictory reports come from the battle raging in the Syrian capital, which the rebel army says will end with the city’s liberation. Today the UN Security Council holds talks to end the crisis. Russian and Chinese opposition excludes any reference to the use of force. Source in UN says there is little chance of successful last-minute negotiations.

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Milan (Agenzia Fides) – We are “at the beginning of the end for the Syrian regime.” “A new page of national history is about to open.” And the new Syria will be democratic, potentially lay, reconciled and free from oppression: is what George Sabra, a Christian, spokesman for the “Syrian National Council”, the representative body of the front of the Syrian opposition, says in an interview with Fides Agency. The spokesman reassured the Christian communities in Syria that their future will be guaranteed “in accordance with principles of democracy, citizenship and freedom.” Fides interviewed him at the eve of a meeting held today, July 18, in Milan by the Jesuit magazine “Popoli”.George Sabra, how do you judge the Syrian crisis that has worsened in these hours?It is a critical stage. I guess we are at the beginning of the end for the regime. There are fierce battles in Damascus and the Syrian army bomb the neighborhoods of the capital. It is a regime, a minority occupying power, which makes war on its own people.How would you rate the efforts of reconciliation born in Syrian civil society, to rebuild a frayed social fabric?Reconciliation is very important, it is the way to national unity. We strongly support it, today and in the near future. We will do our best to prevent forms of violence in all parts of the country. We want to open a new page in the history of the nation and every member of society will be able to share and contribute to building the future of Syria. In the differences and pluralism, the Syrian people are united: we are all part of one people.What is the situation of Christians like in Syria today?I must say that, at the beginning, unfortunately, the churches did not believe in the revolution. Then there are hundreds of Christians arrested, like other citizens, for revolutionary activities: I was also arrested last year, with 14 other Christian members of my village. As months go by, the Christians have begun to share our ideals of the revolution in Syria and abroad. We want to clearly say that in the future there will be no danger to them.It seems there are Salafi groups and Islamist among the revolutionary fighters: How do you respond?On the one hand I can say that some reports are exaggerated: there are no groups allied with Al Qaeda. The Islamists are there, but we know them, they are part of our society and we know how to deal with them. They are in the Syrian National Council and have signed the “Damascus Declaration” (where the front of the opposition reiterates the principles of democracy and freedom, ed). Even the Muslim Brotherhood announced last month that they will accept non-Muslim members to the government and also for the presidency of the country if the people decide. It is a sign of good will on their part.How can you reassure the minorities? How can one guarantee that the new Syria will be a secular, democratic and free state, that will protect them?I believe that democracy is the only way that protects the majority and minorities. It is dictatorship that has oppressed the entire country, majority and minorities. We need to true representatives of the Syrian people to rule Syria. We reaffirm the concept of “citizenship”: all Syrian citizens in any community or belonging to any religion, are equal and have the same rights. As far as the secular state is concerned, I can say that, personally, it is a principle that I support strongly, and my party supports. But it will be the Syrian people to choose what to write in the Constitution. We will fight, in the political arena, for the principle of a secular state, but the decision will be up to the people and must be respected.What is the role of Christians in the new Syria?The role and status of Christians will be the same they lived in the past democratic Syria: I mean the middle of last century, when we had a Christian Prime Minister and a Christian President in Parliament. Democracy gives to minorities, and therefore the Christian community, the opportunity to show their ability, their specificity, their attachment and their contribution to the country.What are your hopes for Syria?We have suffered too much in the last 40 years. We now hope for a free Syria. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 18/7/2012)

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - These are hours of high tension in Damascus: “We hear bombs and gunfire, people are terrified and do not leave the house. We thank God we are alive,” says a Catholic priest from Damascus, reached by Fides Agency and requests anonymity for security reasons. “The news we hear according to some is that President Assad has fled from the capital. In the faces of people there is fear and sadness for the war that has come into houses,” says the priest, saying that his church is home to 18 refugee families who have lost everything because of the conflict. “It is a very difficult time for everyone, there is chaos and uncertainty for the future. In this period I see that the faithful pray more, find their true refuge only in God.” The Christians, he notes, "are among the people, they suffer like the others, they share the same fate and the tragedy of the Syrian people. But they are strong in faith and hope. Pray for us and for our future, " he concludes. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 19/7/2012)

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - These are hours of high tension in Damascus: “We hear bombs and gunfire, people are terrified and do not leave the house. We thank God we are alive,” says a Catholic priest from Damascus, reached by Fides Agency and requests anonymity for security reasons. “The news we hear according to some is that President Assad has fled from the capital. In the faces of people there is fear and sadness for the war that has come into houses,” says the priest, saying that his church is home to 18 refugee families who have lost everything because of the conflict. “It is a very difficult time for everyone, there is chaos and uncertainty for the future. In this period I see that the faithful pray more, find their true refuge only in God.” The Christians, he notes, "are among the people, they suffer like the others, they share the same fate and the tragedy of the Syrian people. But they are strong in faith and hope. Pray for us and for our future, " he concludes. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 19/7/2012)

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Fears are that al-Qaeda might get its hands on the weapons if the regime collapses. Rebels announce attack on state TV headquarters. Reports say Assad and his wife have already left the capital. Today’s UN Security Council is not expected to take tangible steps.

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - “One lives an apocalypse in Damascus, and we hope with all our heart, mind and strength, that resurrection may soon arrive”: is what is said in a message sent to Fides Agency by His Exc. Mgr. Samir Nassar, Maronite Archbishop of Damascus. In the dramatic testimony sent to Fides, the Archbishop said: “Since Tuesday fighting has been raging in Damascus with heavy weapons, tanks and helicopters, in a city full of civilians. The destruction is enormous. What an ordeal! The clashes are taking place in the streets and moving from one district to another. I cannot sleep for fear and for the noise of bombs and gunfire. The temperature is above 40 ° and often there are power outages. There is insufficient supply in many areas, we are short of bread, vegetables, cooking gas and fuel for the furnaces. The population is terrified and does not know where to take shelter. The roads to Jordan, Iraq, to Aleppo and the north area of Homs are closed. You see a long snake of people fleeing on the road to Lebanon: an exodus that occurs in the general panic.” Turning to the displaced of Damascus, the Archbishop says: "I hope you find a home, remembering that in the past, the Syrians welcomed the Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqis refugees."Mgr. Nassar continues: “the few faithful who had the courage to come to Mass lit many candles at the tomb of the Blessed Martyrs of Damascus. They exchanged greetings and tears, in fear of seeing each other for the last time, before returning home between gunfire and explosions.” The violence that has torn the other cities of Syria had been spared in Damascus: “Now it is our turn to suffer and die. We have just built a shelter under the stairs, to escape the bombs and the cellars of the parish have been cleared up. It is an apocalypse: we hope that resurrection arrives soon, after much suffering.” ¶ (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2012)

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With 302 deaths, yesterday was the worst day since the start of the uprising. Syria’s national security chief was among the dead. Rebels seize border posts with Turkey and Iraq. After Russia-China veto at the Security Council, the UK and the US announce new initiatives in favour of the rebels. Moscow complains.

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - Refugees continue to knock on the door of the Shrine of Tabbaleh, dedicated to the Conversion of St. Paul in Damascus. The Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land and the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who run the Church, have welcomed eight families permanently and provide maintenance to 45 other families, Christians and Muslims. They are refugees from Damascus, the civilian victims of the clashes between the regular army forces and revolutionary groups that in recent days have put the city to fire. “We walk in hope and try to comfort all in these tragic hours,” says to Fides Fr. Romualdo Fernandez OFM, Rector of the Sanctuary, telling a crowd of people who come every day to pray in the Church, and spontaneous circles of Christians and Muslims are formed to pray together for peace and ask for God and the Virgin Mary’s protection. Suo Yola, one of the Franciscan women religious who every day help the families of refugees, told Fides: "We are doing our best to help the displaced families. People cry and hope for better times. The cost of living is very high, there are no medicines, the impact of the embargo that we suffer is all on the civilian population and on the poorest. We hope and pray that this suffering will end soon. We have no trust in these so-called ‘revolutionaries’. Who are the revolutionaries who harm the people? They have corrupted all, Christians and Muslims, many families who have lost everything. " “In these armed actions and in this suffering - the nun continues - religion has nothing to do with it. With Muslims we have always lived side by side and we will continue to do so. The Syrian government has hitherto been secular, has guaranteed security and stability to Syria . Today we have only chaos, insecurity, and suffering. And what will happen tomorrow? But we know, as Christians, that God protects us and our hope is alive. And as Christians, we know for certain: we will never abandon Syria.” ¶ (Agenzia Fides 21/7/2012)

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Security Council extends Syria observer mission for 30 days. In Damascus, military frees district from rebels who launch attacks in other areas.

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - Radical Islamist groups in the ranks of the revolutionaries sow terror among civilians in Damascus. Those who pay the consequences are those considered “loyalists”, loyal to the regime of Bashar al Assad. Among the victims, report Fides sources in Damascus, there are also Christians of the suburb of Bab Touma and Iraqi refugees who occupied the suburbs of Oujaira and Sada Zanaim. The Islamist rebel group “Liwa al-Islam” (“The Brigade of Islam”), that recently claimed responsibility for the killing of top generals of government Assad, this morning killed an entire Christian family in Bab Touma. Among the local faithful, reports a source of Fides, there is dismay and outrage at the assault on defenseless civilians. The militants of “Liwa al-Islam” blocked the car of a Christian, Nabil Zoreb, a civil officer, they told him, his wife Violet and two sons, George and Jimmy to get out of the car, killing them all point blank. The militants of the group are very active especially in the region of Duma and other areas in the east of Damascus, where they have carried out other criminal acts. Also in the south-east of Damascus, Islamist fighters of the group " Jehad al nosra ", close to the Muslim Brotherhood, attacked the homes of Iraqi refugees, ransacking, burning them and forcing their occupants to escape. The assault was also reported by Western media like the BBC. According to Iraqi refugees, “gangs of Muslim terrorists attacked and chased us.” Most of the gangs operating in the Southeast of Damascus are considered close to the Muslim Brotherhood, while members of the group “Liwa al-Islam” belong to the Wahhabi ideology. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2012)

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Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - The epicenter of the initiatives of solidarity in Damascus are Christian communities and local committees of the interfaith movement “Mussalaha” (“Reconciliation”), where the population lives in fear because they have seen “the war reach their houses”. According to reliable sources of Fides, there are about 200 thousand internally displaced people from Damascus, who have moved from one neighborhood to another city or different suburbs, to escape the fighting. The revolutionary groups, in fact, are taking position in neighborhoods, buildings, houses of civilians who find themselves, therefore, in the crossfire. This huge movement of families, elderly women and children, predominantly Christian neighborhoods of Jaramana, Qassaa and Bab Touma have become oases of reception and solidarity, without distinction of race, community or religion. Young Christians coordinate the reception of the newly displaced in sending them to schools, churches, mosques and public buildings, where there is space to welcome them. The first humanitarian aid arrives thanks to a network of Christian organizations such as Caritas Syria, the “Middle East Council of Churches”, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, the Community of St.Egidio.Young people are also providing basic public services, in a paralyzed city: for example, given the temperature which is over 42 degrees, the piles of garbage on the streets are a danger to public health, so volunteers are dealing with collecting the garbage.With them are representatives of local committees of the interfaith movement “Mussalaha”, which promotes non-violence and reconciliation. The Movement held a meeting a few days ago in Damascus, reiterating that loyalists or rebels can join the movement, with the only condition to give up weapons. Reconciliation, it says, can be built starting from families, tribes, clans, communities that meet and recognize each other.According to Fides sources, in addition, thousands of refugees in recent months had taken refuge in Damascus, coming from other areas of Syria, are now turning back. Thousands flock to the province of Damascus, towards Qara, Deir attieh, Yabrud, Nebek, others flee toward the center of Syria or towards the north, to the industrial area of Hissia. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2012)

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Aleppo (Agenzia Fides) - Urgent issues of the Syrian crisis, at a time “of great concern” for the Churches and for the entire population, the situation of Christian communities and the plight of the internally displaced will be faced during the next meeting of Catholic Bishops of Aleppo, which will be held on Thursday, July 25 in the Syrian city. As learned from Fides, the meeting had been scheduled a while back, but it comes at a time when the city is the scene of fierce fighting between the army and the revolutionary groups, thus becoming a “crisis summit” where current events, as well as the strictly pastoral matters will be discussed.The Franciscan Fr. George Abu Hazen, OFM, Apostolic Pro-Vicar of Aleppo, says to Fides Agency: “We hear gunshots. The streets are empty and among the population in the city there is great concern and tension. Many people have not gone to work today. In suburb districts, where clashes are in progress, people are fleeing to seek refuge elsewhere. It still cannot be considered a situation of emergency, but it could soon become one.” “It is a moment of great suffering and uncertainty – he continues – which can be read on peoples faces. The Christians of Aleppo, in these hours, pray with more devotion and faith. Despite these dark times, we Christians are the children of the Resurrection, we are the children of Light, and there is hope. Jesus Christ is the Lord of history and is manifested in the history of the Syrian people.” “Our task as Franciscans – concludes Fr. George - is to stay close to the people in this moment of pain and insecurity, comforting, helping, bringing a message of love and hope.” In Aleppo, out of a total population of over two million people, there are about 180 thousand faithful Christians, divided into different denominations and rites, including Catholics, Orthodox, Armenians. ¶ (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2012)

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After six days of shelling, Damascus has become a ghost town. Slowly though, things are getting back to normal. Sources tell AsiaNews that the Church is helping refugees and residents. Military is using helicopters and plane against rebels in Aleppo.

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