Egypt's UN ambassador Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil held a meeting with Arab counterparts to discuss the Syrian crisis, among other things, according to a statement released on Sunday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the meeting Ahmadein Khalil urged Arab states to adopt a resolution proposed by the Arab League Council of Ambassadors on 21 May. The resolution in question calls on all Arab states to closely follow the developments in Syria and to "take urgent action to adopt measures to protect Syrian civilians," the statement read. Ahmadein Khalil stressed the need to deal with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, calling on the Arab states to support the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's call for the facilitation of aid into Syria. The ambassador told the attendees that the delivery of aid is nearly impossible due to the convoluted bureaucratic procedures involved and the Syrian government's refusal to cooperate. Ahmadein Khalil also stressed the need to hold the announced Geneva 2 conference on Syria as soon as possible in order to find an acceptable political solution to the Syrian crisis. He highlighted the importance of providing protection for Syrian civilians and bringing about a swift end to the violence. The statement concluded by calling on the UN organs, particularly the Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities, and reaffirming that Egypt "will continue its consultations with the Arab group and the major international actors to achieve these goals." The Syrian civil war has claimed more than 93,000 lives, according to official UN figures, although the real death toll may be much higher. More than 1.6 million Syrians have been displaced as a result of the fighting and the violence has spilled over to neighbouring countries.
