Brussels: In a joint statement, the co-chairs of the annual donor program for Syria, alongside the Syrian foreign minister, have called for an inclusive reconstruction process.
According to Anadolu Agency, the statement was issued by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, EU Commissioners Dubravka Suica and Hadja Lahbib, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, following the conclusion of a Syrian conference in Brussels. The statement emphasized that rebuilding Syria should be a collective effort that is inclusive, Syrian-led, and Syrian-owned, with the United Nations playing a significant role along with other stakeholders.
The co-chairs reiterated the EU's commitment to supporting Syria's inclusive transition, aiming to secure lasting peace and prosperity for all Syrians without discrimination. They also called for the full respect of Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The statement highlighted the necessity to completely eliminate chemical weapons in Syria and stressed the importance of discovering the fate of the 150,000 forcibly disappeared Syrians, particularly those in Assad's prisons. The EU reaffirmed its support for national and international efforts in this regard.
Both parties rejected the exploitation of Syria's situation by any state or non-state actors, including manipulation of information. They underscored the urgent need to restore trust and security within Syrian society.
The statement welcomed plans to establish a new coordination framework to support an inclusive socio-economic recovery and reconstruction. The co-chairs also emphasized assistance to state and local institutions as well as civil society, aligning with the EU's ongoing commitment to Syria's economic recovery and resilience.
Additionally, the EU conveyed its intention to support an event with civil society in Syria, planned for 2025, in line with its longstanding support for Syria's civil society. This initiative is part of the EU's annual donor conference, which has been held since 2017, offering grants and aid to war-devastated Syria and to countries hosting Syrian refugees.
This year's conference notably included the attendance of Asaad Al-Shaibani, appointed last December after the fall of the Assad regime.