The Russian Defense Ministry yesterday posted a statement of the Joint Coordination Committees of the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic on the problems of the repatriation of Syrian refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs). The document charged that the U.S. and its allies are not only blocking reconstruction of Syria by way of sanctions, but also hindering the return of refugees. The statement reports that the government in Damascus has set as a national priority the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes, and to facilitate this, it is making every effort to rebuild critical infrastructure and restore employment. “However, in the context of the illegal economic blockade and violation of the sovereignty of Syria by the United States and its allies occupying the country’s territories, the capabilities of the Syrian authorities are severely limited,” the statement says.
“The current economic situation in Syria is also of concern to representatives of international humanitarian organizations, who have repeatedly called for easing the sanctions policy against the country’s population, which makes it difficult for ordinary Syrians to access food and medicine, including for the fight with the coronavirus,” it continues. “Nevertheless, despite the statements of the American side about its commitment to universally recognized humanitarian values, all calls to reduce the cruel sanctions have so far been cynically ignored.” This is the background against which the U.S. opposes the repatriation of Syrian citizens and the post-war reconstruction of the country, the statement said.
After also detailing how U.S. obstruction prevents resolution of the situation in the Al Hol refugee camp in Hasakah province, it concludes: “We demand that the United States stop exerting a destabilizing influence on the social and economic situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and immediately return all illegally occupied territories of Syria to the control of the Government of the Republic, as well as lift illegitimate sanctions.” http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12361170@egNews
