Bishop Daniel Kourieh confirmed that the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch hasn't received any call from the Turkish President Abdullah Gul concerning the two abducted bishops, noting that "an official Turkish news report stated that the bishops are safe".

Kourieh said in a radio interview that the kidnappers have not voiced their demands yet, pointing out that the patriarchate has received information that it would prefer not to divulge.

Kourieh also said that the Turkish Intelligence services are carrying out contacts with the kidnappers, stressing that "we have learned from the Aazaz kidnapping case that premature disclosure of information would have a negative repercussion."