"G7": Committed to the Political Process in Syria and Enhancing Justice and Accountability

ARK News… Foreign ministers of the "G7" countries have affirmed their commitment to the political process in Syria, as well as to enhancing justice and accountability. They emphasized that normalization, reconstruction, and lifting of sanctions will only be considered within the framework of a comprehensive political process.

This came in a statement issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union following their meeting on the Italian island of Capri yesterday, Friday.

The statement indicated that the G7 countries "remain committed to the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and fully support the mandate of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen."

The countries urged the Syrian regime to "engage constructively in the UN-facilitated political process to achieve a peaceful solution to the crisis and national reconciliation," stressing that "normalization, reconstruction, and lifting of sanctions will only be considered within the framework of a comprehensive, credible, and enduring political process in accordance with Resolution 2254."

The statement added that "achieving stability and peace in Syria is impossible without permanently defeating ISIS," explaining that the G7 countries, as members of the international coalition against ISIS, are committed to ending ISIS's presence in Syria.

The G7 countries reiterated their commitment to "enhancing justice for victims and holding all parties responsible for violations of international law in Syria accountable, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law."

They renewed condemnation of the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons in Syria, calling on the Syrian regime to "comply with its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention, and fully and verifiably dismantle its chemical weapons program."

Regarding Syrian detainees, the G7 countries called for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained civilians and clarification of the fate of forcibly disappeared individuals, reaffirming support for the work of organizations and bodies such as the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria and the Independent Mechanism that document crimes committed in Syria.

The G7 countries expressed readiness to support the newly established UN Independent Institution on detainees and missing persons in Syria.

Regarding humanitarian aid, the G7 countries stated that "we will continue to support the Syrian people through humanitarian assistance to meet their needs, including early recovery assistance and resilience-building measures."

They urged the Syrian regime to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to all Syrians, including through UN cross-border humanitarian aid, stressing that "there is no alternative to this."

The G7 countries expressed gratitude to the regional countries for continuing to host Syrian refugees, urging the Syrian regime to create conditions for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees.

Regarding the Eighth Brussels Conference on the Future of Syria and the Region, scheduled to be held at the end of this April, the G7 countries stated that it "is important in maintaining a high level of international engagement and mobilization on this matter."

Source: Suriya TV

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