(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Sixty partners met at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for substantive deliberations at the first ministerial-level plenary session for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Brussels Wednesday.
Prime Minister of Iraq Haider Al-Abadi, President Barack Obama's Special Envoy to the Coalition General John Allen, and distinguished representatives from Coalition partners also addressed this important plenary meeting, offering updates on Coalition progress and benchmarks for the coming months, said the Coalition in a joint statement.
Coalition partners reaffirmed their commitment to work together under a common, multifaceted, and long-term strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL. Participants decided that the efforts of the global coalition should focus on multiple lines of effort:
1.Supporting military operations, capacity building, and training;
2.Stopping the flow of foreign terrorist fighters;
3.Cutting off ISIL access to financing and funding;
4.Addressing associated humanitarian relief and crises; and
5.Exposing ISIL true nature.
Participants noted that all members of the Coalition are contributing along one or more of these lines of effort, and decided to continue and intensify these contributions, according to their national decisions, capabilities, and priorities.
They further commended the leadership role taken by Coalition partners to integrate cooperation along the lines of effort, to include Kuwait, which hosted a conference on countering ISIL message (Line of Effort 5) on October 28, 2014; Bahrain, which hosted a conference on countering terrorist finance (Line of Effort 3) on November 9, 2014; and Morocco, which will host the first meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum foreign terrorist fighters working group on December 15, 2014.
Participants noted that the global campaign against ISIL is beginning to show results.The ISIL advance across Syria and into Iraq is being halted. Iraqi forces and Kurdistan Regional Government forces, with support from Coalition airstrikes, are now reclaiming territory in Iraq.
Participants commended the efforts of the Lebanese Armed Forces in fighting ISIL, and noted that ISIL finances and recruitment are also increasingly being challenged through international cooperation.
Participants affirmed, however, that a successful campaign against ISIL will take time, and will require a sustained, united, and coordinated response. Participants reiterated their long-term commitment to this effort.
Participants affirmed their unwavering commitment to implement UN Security Council Resolutions 2170 and 2178 and in particular the provisions on combating the flow of foreign terrorist fighters, suppressing the financing of ISIL and other terrorist groups, and exposing the violent ideology espoused by ISIL around the world.
Regional organizations can play an important role to support the implementation of these objectives. Participants further commended Arab League Resolution 7804 (September 7, 2014), the Jeddah Communiqué (September 11, 2014), the Paris Statement (September 15, 2014), and the Statement of the President of the UN Security Council in support of Iraq (September 19, 2014).
They further noted the need for continued international support in response to counter ISIL.
Participants particularly welcomed the intervention of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, who outlined his Government's plan to defeat ISIL through a combination of security, political, and economic measures.
Participants also welcomed the attendance by Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ja'afri and Defense Minister Khalid Obeidi. Participants offered full support to the Government of Iraq and welcomed its national program, which seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of all components of Iraqi society.
Participants noted with growing concern the suffering of the Syrian people. They urged all Syrian parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to facilitate humanitarian access to those in need, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 2139 and 2165.
Participants further confirmed their commitment to supporting the Syrian people in their efforts to confront ISIL, and to a political transition process based on the principles of the Geneva Communiqué.
A number of participants specifically noted the need for effective ground forces to ultimately defeat ISIL, and, in this regard, commended the actions of the moderate opposition forces fighting against ISIL Syria.
These participants also called for increased support to these moderate opposition forces, which are fighting on multiple fronts against ISIL, Al Nusrah Front, and the Syrian regime.
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