Moscow Urges Partners to Pressure Terrorist Groups to Let Civilians Get Humanitarian Aid

 MOSCOW- Russia is urging its partners to exert pressure on the armed terrorist groups in Syria to make it ensure free delivery of humanitarian aid to the afflicted civilian population, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Friday.

 “The intensity of the armed conflict in Syria, primarily instigated by the armed groups’ terror attacks and atrocities shows no signs of waning. Therefore, we are placing a special emphasis on efforts in the humanitarian field aimed to alleviate the suffering of Syrian civilians,” he said, according to Itar Tass.

 “Within the framework of these efforts and in accordance with the UN Security Council Chairman’s statement of October 2, 2013 regarding the humanitarian situation in Syria Russia is not only providing humanitarian aid and making a financial contribution to deliveries via the UN bodies, but is also consistent in its efforts for the further improvement of cooperation among the major international humanitarian agencies, NGOs and the Syrian government,” Lukashevich said.

International experts admit certain progress was made in this cooperation, he added urging partners to exert more active influence on the armed groups, one of the purposes being to ensure access to the afflicted population and secure the release of civilian hostages.

Russia urges warring sides in Syria to continue local truces

Commenting on reports about a truce between Syrian government forces and gunmen in the al-Maadamia area Lukashevich also said that the practice of local truces in Syria “can and must be continued.”

“This is especially important ahead of calling on January 22, 2014 the Geneva 2 international conference aimed to reverse the course of events in Syria from an armed confrontation to a peace dialogue and normalization,” Lukashevich said.

H. Mustafa