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EU urges donors to make substantial pledge at Kuwait conf. on Syria

BRUSSELS, March 16 (KUNA) -- The EU Foreign Affairs Council Monday called on all international partners to "put forward a substantial pledge in Kuwait" and underlined EU commitment to substantial pledges.
"Ahead of the third international humanitarian pledging conference for Syria in Kuwait on 31 March, the Council reiterates the commitment by Member States to put forward alongside the financial package of the European Commission substantial pledges of new humanitarian and development funding that reflect the scale and protracted nature of the crisis," said the Council which is meeting here today in a statement.
"The Council further calls on all international partners to also put forward a substantial pledge in Kuwait and in the longer term to enhance also the level and the predictability of their respective support to the people affected by the Syria crisis in the region," it said.
It stated that the EU and its Member States are the largest contributor to the international response to the Syria crisis, having mobilised so far more than 3.2 billion euro for relief and recovery assistance to those affected by the conflict inside Syria and refugees and host communities in neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.
Meanwhile, the Council adopted the EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the ISIL threat.
It underlined that the "fight against ISIL and other terrorist groups must be conducted in parallel with the search for lasting political solutions. ISIL has committed barbaric acts against the peoples of Syria and Iraq. It poses a clear threat to our partners in the Middle East, a threat to wider international security and to Europe directly." The statement noted that "the Assad regime's brutal war against its own people, massive human rights violations and systematic obstruction against democratic reforms have heavily contributed to the flourishing of ISIL in Syria.. As a consequence of its policies and actions, the Assad regime cannot be a partner in the fight against ISIL".
The EU it said will continue its policy of imposing additional sanctions targeting the Syrian regime and its supporters, and reiterated its call to the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
The EU expressed its support to efforts by the Global Coalition to counter ISIL, including military action in accordance with international law. It recalled that military action in this context is necessary but not sufficient to defeat ISIL.
It strongly condemned ISIL/Da'esh's deliberate destruction of archaeological and cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq, noting that such actions may amount to a war crime according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
It called on all states to comply with UN Security Council resolutions 2161 and 2199 to ensure that no funds, other financial assets or economic resources are made available, directly or indirectly, by their nationals or by persons within their territory for the benefit of ISIL, Al-Qaida and affiliated groups.
The EU remains committed to achieving lasting peace, stability and security in Syria, Iraq and the wider region, as well as to countering the ISIL threat, it said and called for an inclusive political transition in Syria and inclusive political governance in Iraq as crucial to sustainable peace and stability in the region.
The EU urged all international actors, in particular the countries in the region, to play a constructive role in addressing the crises as their engagement is necessary in order to achieve regional and international stability and to find durable solutions. (end) nk.mt