By Ahmed Al-Mazyad
PARIS, Jan 2 (KUNA) -- France on Wednesday praised Kuwait's initiative to host a donors' conference for Syria at the end of January.
Asked about the plans by KUNA, the spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry Philippe Lalliot said that France welcomes any initiatives aimed at assisting the civilians caught in the conflict in Syria.
HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had announced his country's intentions to host the meeting and pledge a further USD 20 million to humanitarian efforts in Syria during the summit of Gulf Cooperation Council states in Manama, Bahrain, late December - an announcement also welcomed by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.
"The winter season has led to a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria, which requires the doubling of international efforts to meet the needs of its people," said Lalliot.
He also affirmed the need to achieve the aims of the Friends of Syria meeting held in Morocco's Marrakech last month, namely ensuring the arrival of humanitarian assistance to civilians in areas of conflict, in cooperation with the Syrian opposition coalition and the Free Syrian Army. (end) amm.sd KUNA 021902 Jan 13NNNN