By Baris Seckin, Selen Temizer
ROME (AA) – Meeting the humanitarian needs of Syrians is of critical importance, said a joint statement by ministers, who were in Rome to attend the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition Against Daesh/ISIS.
After the ministerial meeting of the coalition in which more than 80 representatives of countries and international organizations were present, a limited-participation ministerial meeting on Syria was held at the Rome Expo Center.
Among the participants were ministers and representatives from the US, UK, Italy, Turkey, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE as well as representatives of Arab League and European Union.
The statement released following the meeting said the participants agreed on the importance of continued support to Syrian refugees and host countries until Syrians can voluntarily return home with safety and dignity in line with UNHCR standards.
“We stressed the critical importance of meeting humanitarian needs, including life-saving assistance and COVID-19 response, for all Syrians in need through all modalities, including through the provision and expansion of the UN cross-border mechanism,” the statement said.
Reaffirming the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, it stressed that they are committed to continue working actively to reach a credible, sustainable, and inclusive political solution based on UNSC Resolution 2254.
“This is the only solution that will bring an end to Syria’s decade long conflict and guarantee the security of the Syrian people and fulfil their aspirations,” the statement added.
Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to UN estimates.
Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone forged under an agreement between Turkey and Russia. The area has been the subject of multiple cease-fire understandings which have frequently been violated by the Assad regime and its allies.
* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk
