Russia is calling on the World Bank to provide urgent and comprehensive support to the Syrian people as the country continues to grapple with a severe humanitarian crisis. The appeal was made by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk during the 111th meeting of the Development Committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, held Thursday in Washington as part of the institutions' Spring Meetings.
“We urge the World Bank Group to deliver immediate and essential support to the Syrian people, who are facing a humanitarian catastrophe amidst critical developments unfolding on the ground,” Overchuk said in a written statement distributed at the session.
On April 20, Syria TV reported that Mohammad Yaser Barniyeh, the Finance Minister of Syria’s transitional government, traveled to the United States as part of the Syrian delegation to attend IMF and World Bank meetings. The aim of the visit is to discuss reintegrating Syria into the global financial system and advancing the country's reconstruction efforts.
Barniyeh expressed hope that these meetings would open the door to international support for Syria’s recovery efforts, the rebuilding of institutions, and the establishment of economic and financial stability.
On April 14, World Bank officials held talks in Damascus with Syrian authorities to explore the possibility of financing energy infrastructure restoration and public sector salary payments. The meeting, which involved Barniyeh and a World Bank technical team, marked the first publicly acknowledged contact between the two sides in years.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World
Based on materials from TASS