MSN - AP World http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a MSN - AP World Copyright © 2010-2018 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved. http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Wed, 29 Nov 2023 22:10:10 +0000 Blinken: Earhquake help for Syrians, despite Assad http://syn2.thecanadianpress.com:8080/mrss/feed/fcf7391a2f354311807f0501c16bde6a/ba48d1bad1214da98f87dc03be9f7ccc ba48d1bad1214da98f87dc03be9f7ccc Wed, 08 Feb 2023 22:22:48 +0000 SHOTLIST:RESTRICTION SUMMARY:US DEPARTMENT OF STATEWashington DC - 8 February 20231. Wide shot of Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during for press conference2. SOUNDBITE (English) Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State:"The loss of life has been truly staggering, shocking. We I think, along with people around the world, are mourning those who've been lost. And also our thoughts are so with those who have lost loved ones."++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++3. SOUNDBITE (English) Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State:"In regard to Syria, I'm not aware of any contacts between the United States government and the Syrian government in in recent days since the the earthquake."++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++4. SOUNDBITE (English) Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State:"We're a leading provider of humanitarian assistance to Syria, to the Syrian people, not to the government and working through these partners. We've tried to make sure that the assistance gets to where it's needed, and that's the people who are affected by the horrific war that Assad has waged on his own people since 2011. And now in the case of the earthquake, the people affected by the earthquake. You're exactly right that there is one crossing that allows assistance to get into Syria from the from the outside, and that was disrupted by the earthquake. It's exactly why we have been fighting every single year, not only to preserve that crossing, it's authorized, as you know, by the United Nations, but to get additional ones so that if a crossing was taken out of action, there would be other places that people could get humanitarian assistance in. And of course, year after year, Russia has sought to block those crossings or to limit them. And that only compounds the tragedy that people in Syria are now experiencing."++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General:"Couple of hours after the earthquake, we sent out a call from the NATO headquarters to all NATO allies to provide immediate support to help Turkey with the consequences of a devastating earthquake. And I welcome that Allies have stepped up and are now providing different types of support. Of course the U.S., as Secretary Blinken mentioned, has already provided a lot of support, but also all the allies are stepping up. And and that's the continued message from from NATO is that we should support Turkey, a valued and important NATO ally where we see human suffering and the devastating consequences of the earthquake."STORYLINE:US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the US will get help to the Syrian people affected by the devastating earthquake despite no relationship with their government."We've tried to make sure that the assistance gets to where it's needed," said Blinken."And that's the people who are affected by the horrific war that Assad has waged on his own people since 2011. And now in the case of the earthquake, the people affected by the earthquake." Blinken's comments came after his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.Rescue teams in Turkey and Syria searched Wednesday for signs of life in the rubble of thousands of buildings toppled by the world’s deadliest earthquake in more than a decade. The confirmed death toll approached 12,000.Search teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel in Syria and Turkey. But the scale of destruction from the quake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread over such a wide area - including a region isolated by Syria’s ongoing civil war - that many people were still awaiting help.Experts said the survival window for those trapped under the rubble or otherwise unable to obtain basic necessities was closing rapidly.The region was already beset by more than a decade of civil war in Syria. Millions have been displaced within Syria itself and millions more have sought refuge in Turkey.In Syria, aid efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border, which is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. Syria itself is an international pariah under Western sanctions linked to the war.The European Union said Wednesday that Syria had asked for humanitarian assistance to help earthquake victims. An EU representative insisted the bloc's sanctions against the Syrian government had no impact on its potential to help.===========================================================Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com(ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. Blinken: Earhquake help for Syrians, despite Assad