Sabbagh holds meetings with Grandi and Pedersen on the sidelines of 2nd Global Refugee Forum
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Bassam Sabbagh and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Philippo Grandi on Friday discussed way to enhance cooperation between the Syrian government and the refugee commission, including joint efforts to facilitate the decent return of the Syrian refugees to their homeland and to support implementing early recovery projects and to provide necessary funding for these projects.
During the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the 2nd Global Refugees Forum in Geneva, Grandi expressed satisfaction over the continuous dialogue and cooperation between the Syrian government and the Commission which led to achieving positive results. Stressing the Commission’s keenness on continue the constructive work with Syria and the countries hosting Syrian refugees with the aim of helping the refugees return home.
Sabbagh also explained the efforts being exerted by the Syrian government to facilitate the refugees’ return, reiterating the government’s commitment to working to achieve this goal.
In another meeting with the UN Chief Special Envoy for Syria Gier Pedersen, Sabbagh reviewed the developments in Syria and the region, mainly in the light of the disastrous situation resulted from the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Sabbagh stressed that the United Nations should adopt a clear stance on the incessant Israeli violations against Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian airports and vital civil facilities. He also affirmed that the UN must also adopt a clear stance regarding the catastrophic repercussions of the unilateral coercive measures on the humanitarian situation in Syria and regarding the theft of the Syrian natural resources, reiterating that these resources belong only to the Syrian people.
Hamda Mustafa