German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that her country will not contribute to the rebuilding efforts in Syria unless a political solution is reached through the UN-led political process and the implementation of UN resolution 2254.
Speaking at the G7 summit in the French resort city of Biarritz on Monday, Merkel linked Syria’s reconstruction to progress in the political process. She noted that it would not be possible to think of offering help in rebuilding without this process as she talked of progress in efforts to form the Constitutional Committee.
Merkel said that such a process could begin soon, pointing to considerable progress in preparations for the launch of the Committee.
The success of such efforts would mean the possibility of starting to talk about the political future in a coordinated manner in Syria for the first time, Merkel said, adding that she believes there is still an opportunity for the political process in Syria.
The Syrian National Coalition earlier said that it is unacceptable to talk about rebuilding absent the start of a just political solution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people for freedom and dignity. It stressed that there could not be talk about rebuilding as long as the Assad regime is destroying whole villages and towns and as long as bombardment by the regime and its allies continues. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
