Presidents Al-Assad, Putin hold video talks on the International Conference for Syrian Refugee

President Bashar Al-Assad and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday held talks via video dealing with the international conference for Syrian Refugee 

President Al-Assad said that the International Conference for Syrian Refugees will be the start for solving this humanitarian issue.  

He affirmed that “most of the refugees want to return to Syria after the state has created the appropriate conditions for that, and we hope that the conference for refugees will come up with important results”.

 “Every house in Syria is concerned with the  issue of refugees as it is a priority for us as a government in the coming period  particularly after a large part of the Syrian territory has been liberated and fighting terrorists has decreased”, the President added, stressing that most of the Syrian refugees fled their country because of terrorism and part of them fled due to the destruction of the infrastructure that made life in the cities, villages or neighborhoods impossible.

The president went on to say that the biggest obstacle that impedes the refugees’ return is the Western blockade imposed on Syria, as a state and people, thus bringing back these refugees necessitates securing the basic needs for their livelihood.

“As for us in Syria, we have great hope that this conference will produce practical results. Of course, the Syrian government is not only ready but rather eager to come up with such results in order to see the largest number of refugees returning within the next few months, not only within the framework of reconciliation, as the majority  of these refugees are supporters of the Syrian government, but the current circumstances don’t allow them to return” President Al-Assad said.

 “Our hopes are high that your efforts and the efforts of other participating countries will contribute to reducing or lifting the illegal and unjust blockade so that the Syrian state can carry out its duties towards those returnees,” he added.

President Al-Assad thanked President Putin for the great efforts he personally made, in addition to the Russian officials who spared no effort until they managed to hold this conference despite the international obstacles that were placed in front of it. He also thanked President Putin for supporting the Syrian government in its efforts to combat terrorism, reconstruct the country and return the refugees.

On his part, President Putin affirmed that the humanitarian disaster in Syria is still huge and that Russia supports holding this conference and will do the best to make it a success in coordination and consultation with the Syrian government to help the refugees return home.

“We will also continue to intensify efforts to encourage a political solution to the crisis in Syria and to preserve the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Putin said, pointing out that “thanks to joint efforts within the framework of the Astana formula, we have been able to achieve many positive results, as the hotbeds of international terrorism have almost been eliminated in Syria and conditions on the ground are improving.

He indicated that the Syrian government is keen on solving the refugee crisis, noting attempts by many countries to politicize it even though it is a humanitarian problem. He stressed that reconstructing Syria after the end of the crisis requires first of all the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

Putin pointed out that the return of the Syrian refugees is an important issue for Syria and for all countries, especially Syria’s neighboring countries, noting that in 2018 he called on the international community to support the Syrian government and President Al-Assad’s initiative to bring the refugees back to their homeland. He stressed that the Syrian government is taking necessary measures to improve the situation in the country that led to the return of more than a million people to their homes.

The Russian President made it clear that the conference will be devoted to the provision of humanitarian aid and the return of refugees to their homes, which will later help attain stability in Syria

Hamda Mustafa