* Qatar's aid totals more than $2bn since the start of the crisis *Lasting political solution needed to end the Syrian crisis: FM

 

Qatar will continue supporting international efforts to reach a lasting political solution to end the Syrian crisis, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has said.

“This is in accordance with the Geneva Declaration (1) of 2012 and the relevant Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No. 2254, which fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people for security and stability and for preserving Syrian unity and independence,” he said.

HE Sheikh Mohamed was speaking at the fifth Brussels conference on Tuesday on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”. The event, held in virtual format this year, aims to mobilise the international community in support of a comprehensive and credible political solution to the Syria conflict, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

He said the State of Qatar affirms the importance of the Syrian Constitutional Committee’s role in helping to end the catastrophe and its readiness to provide support to this committee in co-operation with the Special Envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for Syria, and through continuous interaction with the Syrian parties and its support for the safe and voluntary return of Syrian refugees.

“Based on the firm belief in the right of the brotherly Syrian people to have decent living, Qatar has been keen since the beginning of the crisis, to provide humanitarian and material support to Syrian people,” HE Sheikh Mohamed said.

He noted that the assistance of Qatar to the Syrian people has exceeded $2bn whether as government aid or as aids through civil society organisations, humanitarian and charitable societies or Qatari donor institutions.

HE Sheikh Mohamed also announced that Qatar has pledged another $100mn to mitigate the impact of the Syrian humanitarian catastrophe.

“Based on our international commitments, we reaffirm the importance of a collective response and the augmentation of the contributions aimed at mitigating the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people and the region,” said Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He thanked the organisers of the conference and all countries and organisations that contribute to the provisions of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. “I hope that this conference will achieve its desired goals in the interest of the brotherly Syrian people.”

The conference addresses the most critical humanitarian and resilience issues affecting Syrians and communities hosting refugees from Syria, both inside the country and in the region. It also provided an interactive platform for dialogue with civil society and non-governmental organisations in Syria and the region.

“The convening of this conference today affirms the determination of the international community to continue supporting the brotherly Syrian people in order to mitigate the humanitarian crisis that has been lingering for more than 10 years.

“It is no secret that the humanitarian situation is worsening in Syria and its negative effects worsen year after year while the Syrian regime continues its violations of human rights and its perpetration of atrocities than amount to war crimes, as well as its obstruction of the path towards a political solution.

“There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic and its negative economic effects have made the living conditions of Syrian people more severe, which requires the urgent intervention of the UN and its agencies, especially the World Health Organisation to give priority to the delivery of vaccines into Syria,” HE Sheikh Mohamed said.

“The success in facing the catastrophic humanitarian repercussions of the Syrian crisis, can only be achieved through a political solution that ends this crisis, which is very difficult to end, in light of the continuing intransigence of the ruling regime and its refusal to meet the legitimate demands of the Syrian people,” he added.

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Qatar gives top priority to countering terrorism

 

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Tuesday reiterated that Qatar gave utmost priority to countering terrorism. He underlined that Qatar was an active partner in the international co-operation in confronting terrorism at the national, regional and international levels; and it will continue to carry out its role as an active partner in the international community to maintain international peace and security. Addressing the virtual meeting of the Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS , HE Sheikh Mohamed said terrorism continues to pose a great threat to international peace and security, noting that the success of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, especially in Iraq and Syria, reflects the commitment of the international community to combating terrorism.

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