The Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria came to a close in Kuwait yesterday, with the Foreign Ministry's Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation, Peter Mihalos, representing Greece.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced at the conference that total commitments came to $2.4 billion, underscoring that half of the Syrian population is in urgent need of assistance, with 9.3 million people at immediate risk, causing large waves of migration.

Mr. Mihalos expressed Greece's dedication to the diplomatic process for finding a permanent solution to the Syrian issue, also stressing that Greece supports the international efforts to assist some 3 million Syrians who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

On the margins of the conference, Mr. Mihalos discussed the issue of coordinating EU member-state policies on migration with the European Commissioner responsible for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva. He also met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy, with whom he discussed a number of issues, including transport, the signing of an air transport agreement, cooperation between ports, and ways to strengthen tourism.

In a one-on-one meeting with Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Mr. Mihalos stressed the need to convene the Joint Interministerial Committee at the soonest possible time, and in his meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian he expressed Greece's support for the Geneva II peace process.

Mr. Mihalos also met with Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Lapo Pistelli to discuss issues regarding the implementation of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the strengthening of shipping cooperation, and matters concerning the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU and its cooperation with the subsequent Italian Presidency.

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