Blanar: Slovakia Has Long Supported Efforts to Alleviate Suffering in Gaza Strip

Bratislava, 13 August (TASR) - Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) has said that Slovakia has long and consistently supported international efforts to ease the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip and to secure the release of all hostages, TASR was informed by the ministry's communications department on Wednesday. Blanar said this in reaction to a joint statement signed by 26 EU-member states and the European Commission on Tuesday urging an end to famine in the Palestinian enclave. "We joined this initiative because we consider it to be essential for international humanitarian organisations to be able to provide assistance to the civilian population without any restrictions. Aid to people in need must not be the subject of political disputes," said Blanar. The partners signed a joint statement expressing serious concerns over the consequences of new registration measures that could significantly complicate the provision of humanitarian aid and further worsen the already critical situation in the Gaza Strip. They called on the government of Israel to ensure full, safe, and unrestricted access to the Gaza Strip for international humanitarian organisations which provide aid to the civilian population. "In this connection, the Slovak Republic calls on all stakeholders to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law," added Blanar. In addition to support from the foreign ministers of 26 countries including Slovakia, the joint statement was also signed by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica and Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib. jrg/df/ko