The Syrian government has created suitable circumstances for the refugees’ return, but some countries continue to impede this process: Lavrov

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stressed that some countries continue to impede the return of the Syrian refugees to their country though the Syrian government has created suitable circumstances for their return.

 “The international community is concerned with the return of the Syrian refugees to their country, but it doesn’t provide sufficient resources for this. It must focus its efforts on facilitating their return to their homeland,” Lavrov said on Monday during a press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib in Moscow.

“Unfortunately, upon holding the first International Conference on the Return of Refugees in Damascus a year ago, the United States and the European Union tried to undermine it, and this is totally unacceptable,” added Lavrov.

Concerning Lebanon, Lavrov said that Russia has sent the Lebanese government the satellite images it has for Beirut’s port before and after a huge explosion rocked it last year.

 “Today, at the request of the Lebanese government, we handed over materials prepared by Roscosmos satellite images, and we hope that they will help in the investigation into the causes of this incident. This issue is now receiving quite serious attention in Lebanon and we hope it can be closed,” Lavrov told reporters.

He stressed Russia’s keenness on enhancing cooperation with Lebanon to help it rebuild the infrastructure that was damaged as a result of the explosion, expressing hope that the Lebanese government will be able to achieve security and stability.

On his part, Bou Habib said that he discussed with Lavrov ways to activate bilateral agreements and the economic and political challenges facing Lebanon, in addition to several regional and bilateral issues.

Hamda Mustafa