In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Your Excellency Ms. Mogherini,
Your Excellency Commissioner Stylianides,
Excellencies, colleagues,
I thank His Excellency Secretary-General Guterres, Under-Secretary General Lowcock and Special Envoy de Mistura for attending this important meeting. We are pleased to meet again with our partners in this humanitarian endeavor that addresses the most serious crisis in the world, and deserves the attention and follow-up that is proportionate to it. This was achieved through the international conferences held in Kuwait, then London and finally the Brussels Conference, in which Qatar has participated.
These conferences have witnessed the announcement of significant pledges by different countries. However, the benefit from those pledges can only be realized by fulfilling them. Also, raising funds and assistance is of no use, unless they are not delivered to those in need of them. Therefore, the international community must intensify efforts to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and that it is not obstructed by any party. This is confirmed by the Security Council resolutions related to the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the State of Qatar has spared no effort in providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people. At the Brussels Conference, Qatar pledged $100 million dollars and has fulfilled most of the pledges made at both the Brussels and London conferences. This is only a fraction of the total amount of material and in-kind relief provided by the State of Qatar, which amounted to $1.6 billion dollars provided by government support and Qatari charities; to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people in Syria and in neighboring countries. We thank Syria's neighboring countries and urge the international community to continue supporting them in shouldering this burden.
In light of the warning of experts and concerned international agencies, such as UNICEF, of the possibility of losing a generation of Syrians, and being aware that the deprivation of millions of Syrian children and young people from education is dangerous and one of the most important causes of extremism, violence, and terrorism; the State of Qatar has taken initiatives in education and professional development in partnership with humanitarian and regional organizations. Qatar's contributions include donating with the Syrian Refugee Education and Training Initiative for 400,000 beneficiaries over five years, and the establishment of its "Educate a Child" initiative, which benefitted around 985,000 children, in addition to the activities of the Qatari civil society organizations. In addition, thousands of Syrians were reunited with their families residing in Qatar.
Your Excellencies,
It is impossible to talk about the humanitarian repercussion of from victims, lost generations and refugees, without discussing the importance and necessity of stopping the continued serious violations of international humanitarian law, and the international human rights law committed by either the Syrian regime or "Daesh". This is indicated by the reports of the United Nations and international organizations that the regime's forces and "Daesh" are responsible for the use of chemical weapons against civilians. The latest report of the International Independent Investigation Commission confirmed the responsibility of the regime's forces for the use of chemical weapons in the town of Khan Shaykhun last April.
Accountability for these atrocities and crimes committed in Syria is the responsibility of the international community in order to achieve the principle of justice, deter perpetrators from continuing to commit such crimes, and removing obstacles in the way of the sustainability and success of resolving this crisis, political transition, and national consensus. We stress the importance of putting into action the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011. In addition, to moving towards independent and fair criminal proceedings and whatever needed to solve the Syrian crisis. The State of Qatar has contributed $1 million dollars to support the international mechanism.
Your Excellencies,
Parallel to fulfilling the needs of the Syrian refugees and displaced people, and the pursuit of political transition, we would like to underline the need to prepare now for the post-political solution and the cessation of violence. This will require exerting efforts to support reconstruction and repairing basic infrastructure. There is no doubt that such support requires a credible political process that leads to a sustainable political transition, for which we have been calling for since the beginning of the crisis. We reiterate Qatar's support for the efforts to find a political solution to the crisis on the basis of the Geneva Declaration 1, the resolutions of the Security Council including resolution 2254, and for realizing the aspirations of the Syrian people for security, stability, territorial integrity and self-determination without any pressure.
We support the efforts for de-escalation and end violence, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, international law, and international humanitarian law, as well as the ongoing Astana talks. These efforts do not substitute the Geneva talks, which must be resumed as soon as possible. We demand the regime take responsibility and seriously deal with these negotiations instead of disregarding the lives of the Syrian people.
We emphasize that the agreements on tension reduction can only succeed if they are secured and supported by utilizing local councils. We hope that these agreements will spare the Syrian people from further bloodshed, heinous crimes, and atrocities.
Thank you,