Syria condemns convening the so-called (Brussels 5) conference without inviting the Syrian government

Syria expressed its condemnation of the convening of the so-called “Brussels 5” conference without inviting the Syrian government, affirming its rejection of this show activity and the illegality of what is issued by it. It calls on its organizers to cease these futile policies and to adopt a realistic and constructive approach in working with the Syrian government to meet the basic needs of the Syrian people.

In a letter sent on Wednesday through its permanent mission in New York to the UN Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that the Syrian Arab Republic expresses its disapproval for holding this conference for the fifth time without inviting the Syrian government; the party concerned with the affairs of the Syrian people and their needs and the essential partner for the United Nations and the international community in humanitarian work in Syria.

The Foreign Ministry added that the participation of the United Nations in presiding over this conference in the absence of the government of the concerned country is a clear violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions, which all call for  respecting the sovereignty and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic and its unity and territorial integrity.

The Ministry continued that the imposition of more unilateral coercive measures by the European Union and the United States and their automatic renewal despite their negative impact which is  coinciding with the outbreak of Covid-19, in addition to their organization of this conference, reflect hypocrisy in the way they deal with the humanitarian situation in Syria.

In its message, the Foreign Ministry said that the imposition of unilateral coercive measures, have become a form of economic terrorism and collective punishment, noting that ignoring the calls made by the UN Secretary-General and UN senior representatives and specialized agencies to lift these sanctions and ignoring its catastrophic effects on the various aspects of life of the Syrian people undermines the credibility of the organizers of this conference and reveals the propaganda nature of it.

The Foreign Ministry added that the involvement of the European Union and the United States in policies aimed at destabilizing the security and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic, veiling acts of aggression and occupation, ignoring the practices of terrorist organizations and separatist militias, denies any allegations of humanitarian concern by those countries.  Those governments that boast of providing aid to the Syrians at the conference have to stop the theft of the Syrians’ wealth, cultural property and agricultural crops and not depriving the Syrians of them.

The organizers of the Brussels conferences have been claiming their support for the Syrian people and providing them with assistance by mobilizing member states to allocate the necessary financial resources. But the facts have proven that this conference has turned into a tool of pressure and blackmail by donors to impose their dictates on the mechanisms of providing humanitarian aid and politicizing humanitarian work and linking it to conditions that contradict altogether with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence and other controls enlisted  in General Assembly Resolution 46-182, the Foreign Ministry continued.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the facts also demonstrated that many donors have not fulfilled their pledges and that the largest amount of aid is allocated- if it is provided- to neighboring countries and regions outside the control of the Syrian government, which leads to prolonging the crisis and limiting efforts aimed at improving the humanitarian situation.

The Ministry clarified that the Syrian Arab Republic stresses that the repetition by representatives of the European Union of the conditions for contributing to the development work in Syria would impede efforts aimed at reconstruction and restoration of civilian facilities and the necessary infrastructure that would provide the appropriate environment for the return of refugees and displaced to their original areas.

The Foreign Ministry said that Syria affirms that improving the living conditions of the Syrian people requires engaging in serious and constructive cooperation with the Syrian government and supporting its efforts with its humanitarian partners in meeting humanitarian needs and providing support to Syrians wherever they are on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. It also stresses that the center of humanitarian work in Syria is Damascus and not any other city in the neighboring countries or beyond. This is the simplest meaning of the principle of respecting Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Inas Abdulkareem