Russia, Iran, China stress the entire international community should join efforts to solve the Syrian refugee crisis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stressed that resolving the refugee crisis requires the participation of the international community and stopping the politicization of this file by some countries, reiterating that these countries are responsible for the suffering of millions of Syrians who were forced to leave their homeland.

In a statement delivered on Wednesday by the Russian Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev during the opening of the International Conference on Return of Syrian Refugees, Lavrov affirmed that assisting Syria in returning the Syrian refugees and displaced citizens to their homes, through respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254, is among the most important steps to ensure long-term stability in the country. 

Lavrov emphasized that some countries continue in supporting terrorist organizations in Syria and politicizing the issue of Syrian refugees, and that is why they should be blamed for the suffering of millions of Syrians who were forced to leave their homeland. He said that countries that failed to overthrow the Syrian government are practicing financial and economic siege and unilaterally taking illegal restrictive measures that hinder the provision of aid to refugees and displaced persons.

He said that the non-participation of some countries, mainly the United States, in the conference proves their double standards policy towards Syria for geopolitical purposes.

 “This is not surprising, as these countries have directly participated in fueling the war in Syria and have been providing different forms of support to terrorist organizations there,” Lavrov said indicating that solving the refugee crisis requires providing decent living conditions for millions of Syrians, and this necessitates the active participation of the entire international community.

The top Russian diplomat also said that Russia continuously provides support for Syria and it is sparing no effort to involve a large number of countries and specialized organizations in the reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructure and in the recovery of the economy in Syria.

He expressed hope that millions of Syrians will soon be able to return to their country, reiterating Russia’s readiness to contribute to this process with every possible means and its firm support for Syria in all fields.

On his part, Ali Asghar Khaji, Senior Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister affirmed that the refugee crisis is the result of a decade-long war imposed on the Syrian people.

 “The influx of terrorists supported by a number of countries has led to bloodshed, devastation and displacement of millions of Syrians to other countries, who live in very difficult conditions in refugee camps,” Khaji said, pointing out that after liberating most of the Syrian territories from terrorism, circumstances have become suitable for the refugees’ return and the international community must contribute actively and honestly to this process.

Khaji indicated that the terrorist groups supported by the American occupation forces in the al-Tanf area (near the Syrian-Jordanian borders) continue to prevent refugees in Al-Rukban camp from returning to their villages and towns.

He went on to say that some countries that failed to achieve their goals through direct occupation and support for terrorism, have resorted to punishing the Syrian people by imposing unjust economic sanctions, most notably the so-called “Caesar Act” imposed by the US administration, to increase the suffering of the Syrian people and hinder the return of refugees.

He added that given the importance of Syria reconstruction and its direct impact on the return of the displaced, the Islamic Republic of Iran “proposes establishing an international fund for reconstructing Syria”.

He affirmed Iran’s firm support for political solution to the crisis in Syria and for supporting its people in the war on terrorism until it is completely eliminated.

In the same context, the Chinese Ambassador to Syria Feng Biao asserted that the refugees’ return is an important issue to Syria, thus, the international community should help in facilitating the refugees’ return so that they can contribute to the reconstruction of their homeland.

Biao said that maintaining the economic sanctions on Syria is  illegal behavior as these sanctions impede the return of the Syrian refugees to their country.

He affirmed China’s firm commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, noting his country’s unremitting efforts to push for a political solution to the crisis in the country and to assist in the issue of the Syrian refugees.

The Chinese ambassador pointed out that some countries still insist on imposing unilateral sanctions against Syria, ignoring the needs of the Syrian people, especially in light of the outbreak of the Coronavirus, affirming that maintaining these sanctions is illegal and immoral.

“Today, Syria needs help as it has a tremendous reconstruction task. All should join efforts to support Syria, improve the livelihood of its people, revive its economy and provide assistance in order to enable the country to go ahead with the reconstruction process in regular steps,” the ambassador said.

Hamda Mustafa