Interim Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy discussed Egyptian support to Syrian refugees in a donors' conference in Kuwait City, where he also met with his Kuwaiti counterpart. In his speech at the Second International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria, Fahmy said that despite Egypt's economic situation, it has hosted 300,000 Syrian refugees, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. He added that Egypt will continue to support refugees until a peaceful solution is reached in Syria. Fahmy also called on all parties in the Syrian conflict to resolve matters peacefully and focus on reducing the Syrians' suffering. Millions have been pledged so far by countries including the United Kingdom, Finland, Luxemburg, Iraq and Qatar, with a target to collect $6.5bn in aid for refugees and internally displaced Syrians. Fahmy met with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah on Tuesday during his one-day trip to the oil-rich Gulf monarchy and discussed bilateral ties as well as regional developments, including the situation in Syria and Palestine. The two sides discussed the Geneva II conference scheduled to be held at the end of the month, a statement posted by Egypt's foreign ministry said. This meeting comes weeks after Al-Sabah announced measures in December to boost Egypt's economy, including investing in joint ventures in Egypt and giving priority to projects that affect Egyptian citizens. Kuwait, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have promised Egypt aid in the form of grants, interest-free loans and oil products, totalling $12bn in July, days after the ouster of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. Kuwait was quick to support the power shift that swept the country. By December 2013, Egypt had received around $8bn in economic support from Kuwait, Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa El-Din said. Kuwait also allowed Egypt a five-year period to return a $2bn deposit it has given the interim government, interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi said in October. In his second overseas tour as head of state, interim President Adly Mansour visited Kuwait where he met with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and discussed strengthening relations between Egypt and the Gulf state.
