The second high-level conference on „Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region“ was held in Brussels under the presidency of the European Union and the United Nations. Its aim was to provide additional resources to help Syria and neighbouring countries that host Syrian refugees. Deputy Minister Ivo Šrámek presented in his speech the official pledge of the Czech Republic to help Syria and the region amounting to 222 million CZK. He stressed the importance of the humanitarian dimension for stabilizing the situation in Syria as well as the neighbouring countries. He added that we must find political solution for the causes of the conflict. Like in the previous years the Czech Republic will continue to support projects in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey besides its special humanitarian, development and reconstruction assistance programme to Syria.

Participants of the conference unanimously condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria and declared their full support for the efforts to solve the conflict. The international community should use all means at its disposal to encourage the parties of the conflict to engage in constructive UN-led negotiations. The EU has been stressing that the conflict in Syria can be solved by political means only and it will continue to provide humanitarian aid.