Welcome
Foreign Minister Steinmeier pledges continuing support for Syria’s moderate opposition forces
Foreign Minister Steinmeier welcoming members of the Syrian National Coalition’s interim Government, © AA
The Assad regime stands urgently called upon to implement the clear stipulations of the UN resolution and immediately grant full humanitarian access to the conflict areas.
Germany will continue doing all we can in our humanitarian efforts for the people in need in Syria today. I spoke to Prime Minister Tomeh today about how we can deliver our assistance most effectively.
We will be maintaining our support for Syria’s moderate opposition forces. One of the means we have of doing this is the trust fund Germany has set up, which now contains over 50 million euros and is used directly for relief projects in the areas controlled by the moderate opposition.
I am glad that Japan has marked the occasion of Prime Minister Tomeh’s visit to Berlin today by becoming the fund’s newest international contributor, providing 10 million euros.
Background information
Prime Minister Tomeh was accompanied on his visit to the Federal Foreign Office by Taghrid Al‑Hajali, Minister of Culture and Family, Ibrahim Miro, Minister of Finance, Elias Wardeh, Minister of Energy and Mineral Wealth, and Iyad Qudsi, Vice Prime Minister.
Along with the more than one hundred members of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People, the German Government has recognised the National Coalition as the legitimate representatives of the Syrian people.
The German Government established the Syria Recovery Trust Fund in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates. It is administered by Germany’s KfW (Reconstruction Loan Corporation). The National Coalition of the Syrian Opposition decides how the money is allocated to particular reconstruction projects.