The German government considers the use of toxic gas in Syria to be a war crime which must not go unpunished. Those responsible must be called to account. Russia, not least, is called on to actively support the search for those responsible, said deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer.
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The German government is appalled at reports that toxic gas has been used to attack the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun. "Horrendous images are reaching us from Syria. There is no end to the suffering of the Syrian people," said deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer on Wednesday at the government press conference. On Tuesday evening Chancellor Angela Merkel roundly condemned the chemical weapon attack in Syria and underscored, "War crimes like these must not go unpunished."
On Wednesday evening the United Nations Security Council was unable to agree on a common stance on the toxic gas attack in Syria. "It is an absolute disgrace that no UN Security Council Resolution has been adopted. And those who refuse to support the resolution must ask themselves what responsibility this gives them," said Angela Merkel on Thursday (6 April) on the margins of her meeting with the state premiers of the eastern German federal states.
Ulrike Demmer explained that the German government has "noted with horror" the reports on the attack. She too underscored, "The use of toxic gas is a war crime." This must be investigated. For this reason the German government welcomes the fact that the United States Security Council is to look at the case on Wednesday.
Those responsible for this inhuman crime must be called to account, said Ulrike Demmer, and this includes President Assad and his government. Although investigations in this case have not yet been concluded, it must be pointed out that "in the past the Assad regime has been proven to have been responsible for the use of chemical weapons".
The German government also sees Russia and Iran, allies of the Assad regime, as sharing responsibility. Without their massive military support, continued Ulrike Demmer, the Assad regime would have had to agree to serious negotiations leading to a political solution long ago.
The German government also assumes that Russia will not refuse an independent investigation of the incident in Khan Sheikhoun and that those responsible will be called to account.
Moreover, the German government expects "that Russia will not hinder the Security Council and other bodies in their efforts to identify who was behind yesterday’s attack, but that they will actively support investigations".
On Wednesday, at the Syria conference in Brussels, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel announced that the German government is to provide 1.17 billion euros to help people at risk in Syria and those who have been forced to flee. "Our priority is to support families and children in Syria, and in the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey," he said.
The vast majority of Syrian refugees remain in neighbouring countries. Of the funding now pledged, about 800 million euros are to be invested in education, training and further education for refugees in the region. An employment offensive in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq has created more than 60,000 jobs since last year. More than 300,000 children have attended school. More than 7,000 people have been given professional prospects thanks to training, for instance in skilled trades.
At the Syria conference held last year in London, Germany already made the largest single pledge of assistance of 2.3 billion euros for the period 2016 – 2019. Of this sum about 1.32 billion euros have already been invested in humanitarian aid, stabilisation measures, and in education, training and jobs.
On Wednesday, at the Syria conference in Brussels, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel announced that the German government is to provide additional funding of 1.17 billion euros to help people at risk in Syria and those who have been forced to flee. "Our priority is to support families and children in Syria, and in the neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey," he said.
90 per cent of Syrian refugees stay in neighbouring countries
The fact that the vast majority of Syrian refugees stay in neighbouring countries is often overlooked. Of the funding now pledged, about 800 million euros are to be invested in education, training and further education for refugees in the region.
An employment offensive in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq has created more than 60,000 jobs since last year. More than 300,000 children have attended school. Over 7,000 people have been given professional prospects thanks to training, for instance in skilled trades.
At the Syria conference held last year in London, Germany already made the largest single pledge of assistance of 2.3 billion euros for the period 2016 – 2019. Of this sum about 1.32 billion euros have already been invested in humanitarian aid, stabilisation measures, and in education, training and jobs. The sum of 1.17 billion euros now pledged by Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel is to be provided in addition to this for 2017 and the following years.