Al-Mikdad: Countries willing to repatriate their children from al-Hawl camp should coordinate with Syrian state
Damascus, (ST) – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr.Faisal al-Miqdad met on Thursday, with the Russian President’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Anna Kuznetsova, and the accompanying delegation.
The two sides emphasized the friendship and partnership between the two countries in various fields, especially in the field of humanitarian work and combating terrorism in Syria.
During the meeting, Dr. Al-Miqdad expressed his satisfaction with the process of evacuation of Russian children from Al-Hawl camp within the framework of joint coordination between the Syrian and Russian governments, contrary to what some Western countries have done. These Western countries repatriate their citizens from the camp by dealing directly with armed separatist militias and smuggling them across borders in a violation of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Dr. Al-Miqdad affirmed the continuation of constructive Russian-Syrian efforts to evacuate all Russian children from the camp and return them to their homeland, noting that the Syrian state is ready to provide the necessary facilities for this matter.
He pointed out that, other countries wishing to repatriate their children and citizens from Al-Hawl camp must do that in full coordination and cooperation with the Syrian state, stressing the necessity of working together to restore the normal life of these children, just like the rest of the world’s children.
On the other hand, Dr. Miqdad thanked Kuznetsova for her participation in the International Conference for the Return of Syrian Refugees, which is currently being held in Damascus, referring to the joint Russian-Syrian efforts for the success of this conference.
Dr. Al-Miqdad considered that the position of the United States of America and the Western countries regarding the boycotting of the conference which exposed the true objectives of these countries that do not want good for Syria and the Syrian refugees. “This boycott revealed the falsehood and hypocrisy of the claims of these countries,” he said.
The Russian President’s Commissioner for Child Affairs, Anna Kuznetsova highlighted the level of fruitful cooperation shown by the Syrian government to facilitate the safe and healthy return of Russian children from al-Hawl camp to their motherland, Russia.
Kuznetsova praised the humanitarian efforts made by the Syrian government to alleviate the suffering of children as a result of the terrorism to which Syria was exposed, affirming the Russian Federation’s keenness to respect the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Raghda Sawas