Kuwait urges response to Syria war crimes in line with int'l law

GENEVA, June 26 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait called on Tuesday to apply international laws in dealing with war crimes witnessed in Syria.
This came during a speech delivered by Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Jamal Al-Ghunaim, at the 38th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to discuss independent Fact-Finding Commission in Syria.
Ambassador Al-Ghunaim said that these demands came within the framework of Kuwait's commitments to international human rights mechanism, which punish the various criminal war acts such as obstructing access to humanitarian aids, disrupting medical evacuation, and preventing the siege of residential areas.
The State of Kuwait is concerned about the statement by the Chairman of the Commission, Judge Paolo Pinheiro, that all parties to the conflict continue to use all kinds of heavy and internationally prohibited weapons against innocent civilians in Syria, Al-Ghunaim added.
He stressed that these violations require a serious international action to stop the high rate of war crimes against the Syrian people.
Kuwait strongly condemns the serious and repeated violations of human rights facing Syrian people, attacks on medical facilities and infrastructure, and indiscriminate use of heavy weapons and aerial bombardments targeting civilians.
He explained Kuwait's efforts through its membership in the United Nations Security Council and in cooperation with the friendly Kingdom of Sweden to find a mechanism to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria through the adoption of Resolution (2401) by consensus on February 24.
Ambassador Al-Ghunaim expressed Kuwait's "disappointment" of not fully implementing the resolution, reiterating its call for the access of humanitarian agencies to all areas of Syria.
He explained that the State of Kuwait was always aware of the human tragedy in Syria and believed in the importance of supporting the brotherly Syrian people and hosted three international donor conferences in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and co-chaired donor conferences in London and Brussels.
The total amount provided by Kuwait during these conferences amounted to USD 1.6 billion, distributed through regional and international organizations.
Kuwait allocated a sum of USD 250 million to support the educational and health sectors and infrastructure of countries hosting Syrian refugees, especially in Lebanon and Jordan.
It appeals to all countries that have pledged their commitments in the six conferences held to support the Syrian people to fulfill their commitments.
Ambassador Al-Ghunaim referred to the call made by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to support and assist the children and youth of the displaced and Syrian refugees through the adoption of programs providing them with learning opportunities.
He stressed that Kuwait is against any military solution to solve the Syrian crisis and calls for stopping all forms of violence and fighting and, instead, reaching a peaceful settlement under the UN supervision and according to UNSC resolution (2254).
Al-Ghunaim concluded his speech by urging the support of UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura in his efforts to push forward negotiations on the political track to resolve the Syrian crisis. (end) ta.nhq