UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22: Russia has clashed with the European Union over Syria, accusing the bloc of politicising aid by linking reconstruction funds to a political transition that would end the war.
The European Union in April secured pledges of $6 billion in aid for Syria, now in its seventh year of war, with over 330,000 people dead.
At an EU-organized conference held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said aid was being used as a political tool to build pressure on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
“The politicization of issues related to aid and the statements on the need to wait for the end of the political process are unacceptable,” said Gennady Gatilov.
European officials insist that aid will not flow to Syria until a credible political transition is agreed during UN-led negotiations to end the war.
But Gatilov said aid was needed now “to rebuild schools, hospitals and critical infrastructure.”
Britain argued that aid should not reward the Assad regime while France accused Damascus of continuing to block humanitarian deliveries.
The war in Syria has dropped off the top of the diplomatic agenda during this year’s annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, which has focussed heavily on the nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran.
The United Nations is planning to convene a new round of peace talks next month between Syria’s government and the opposition even though past negotiations have failed to yield progress.
With the rebel fighting position weakened, experts say the regime faces no pressure to make concessions at the negotiating table, and especially not over the question of Assad’s future. (AGENCIES)
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