Strasbourg, 31/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution adopted on 29 January, the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly (PACE) regretted that the Council of Europe's 47 member states failed to endorse a general policy for Syrian refugees, of whom there were more than 3 million at the end of 2013, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. PACE does not have any binding powers, explained Jean-Marie Böckel (European People's Party, France), the resolution's rapporteur, but it can be an influential sounding board for Russia and the European Union, for instance, in order to inspire the right kind of action. Noting the terrible situation for women and children, the resolution praises member states for accepting Syrian refugees - Germany, Armenia, Bulgaria, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. Böckel noted the remarkable work done by Turkey, and also Lebanon, which does what it can and needs help, as do two other neighbours of Syria, Jordan and Iraq. The rapporteur says that the humanitarian aspect of the resolution is also a political matter when viewed in the context of Geneva II. (VL/transl.fl)