New York, Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Bassam Sabbagh, discussed with the Executive administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Achim Steiner during a meeting in New York aspects of cooperation between the Syrian Arab Republic and the program and means of enhancing the cooperation of program's activities in Syria, particularly, with regard to expanding early recovery projects and supporting resilience. Minister Sabbagh pointed out to the significant shortage in funding for humanitarian and development activities in Syria at a time when needs are increasing significantly, which requires doubling efforts to provide the necessary funding. He urged donors to fulfill their pledges on the one hand and the necessity of lifting the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States of America and the European Union on Syria. For his part, Steiner stressed the programme's keenness to continue cooperation and coordination with the Syrian government and to do everything possible to enhance its ac tivities in Syria in a way that meets the growing needs, especially in light of the current circumstances witnessed by the region. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency