Russia urges patrons of Syrian “opposition” to convince it to lift impediments to aid

UNITED NATIONS- Countries having a share of influence on the Syrian “opposition” forces should convince them to lift impediments to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population affected by the dragged-out conflict in Syria, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin told Itar-Tass.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier the Syrian government was ready to let humanitarian convoys to Yarmouk and Barza and to coordinate with “opposition” groupings the deliveries of relief supplies to East Guta and a number of other localities around the Syrian capital.

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“Very intense but knotty work on the issue is underway because the problem is the “opposition” sometimes doesn’t give consent to the passage of humanitarian convoys while the government gives the go-ahead to the deliveries,” Churkin said. “It’s important for the countries having influence on the “opposition” to reach agreement with the opposition so that it wouldn’t impede the deliveries of aid.”

He recalled that the problem of humanitarian access in Syria is a matter of permanent concern of the UN Security Council and is discussed at briefings, in which UN humanitarian affairs chief Valerie Amos takes part.

 “This is discussed at the so-called high-level group set up in Geneva for the solution of humanitarian issues, as well as along bilateral channels,” Churkin said.

M.D