Syria at the heart of an international conference that hopes to raise 8.5 billion euros
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, in Brussels on March 30, 2021. AP - Francisco Seco
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The 5th Brussels Donors' Conference for Syria, co-organized by the UN and the EU, opened on March 29 with a meeting of representatives of Syrian, regional and international NGOs.
This Tuesday, it is the turn of international organizations and States to take stock of the ten years of crisis and conflict, as well as to announce the amount of their financial support and their other diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives.
The amount of the pledges of financial commitments will be established at the end of this conference, which is being held by videoconference.
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With our correspondent in Brussels,
Pierre Benazet
According to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, these major conferences of international support remain more necessary than ever.
And international support must also go to neighboring countries which host the majority of Syrian refugees, such as Lebanon, which considers that it is no longer able to meet the material and security needs of both its population and the refugees.
“
The option of voluntary returns should be seriously considered, and a political resolution of the Syrian conflict should be sought more aggressively.
Our security and protection concerns risk getting seriously out of hand
, ”warns Zeina Akar, the Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister.
► To read also: After ten years of war in Syria, Bashar al-Assad reigns over ruins
"No aid for reconstruction without a political process"
But Syria's absence from this conference further complicates the search for a political solution and, for the moment, jeopardizes the country's reconstruction prospects.
Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs, is categorical: “
Our position remains unchanged: no aid for reconstruction without a political process.
The sham elections that the Syrian regime is preparing to organize meet neither the aspirations of the Syrian people, nor the criteria determined by the United Nations resolution.
"
The United Nations hope that this conference will raise 8.5 billion euros.
The Syria conflict has now lasted 10 years.
Today, the EU and @UN are co-hosting the # SyriaConf2021 to advance the peace process and finally put an end to the suffering, mobilize support to tackle urgent humanitarian needs of Syrians & push for a sustainable political solution.
https://t.co/mKQU0dMRoC
- Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 30, 2021
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