Al-Assad on the eve of refugee conference: his return is a priority

Yesterday, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad confirmed, during a video call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, that the return of Syrian refugees who left the country due to years of war in it is a “priority” in the next stage. This came two days before a conference organized by Damascus, with the support of Moscow, to discuss the issue of the return of these people. In the call broadcast by the Syrian presidential account on Facebook, Al-Assad addressed Putin saying that the refugee issue is “the number one priority during the next stage, especially after a large part of the territories have been liberated and the battlefield has receded, despite the continuation of terrorism. “

Damascus, with the support of Russia, will organize a conference on the return of refugees to their country next Wednesday and Thursday, in which it is not clear who will participate. However, neighboring Lebanon, which is home to around 1.5 million refugees according to official estimates, will send Acting Minister of Social Affairs Ramzi Musharrafieh as its representative. The United Nations Resident Coordinator and the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Imran Reda, will also attend as an “observer”.
Al-Assad considered, during the convocation, that “the greatest obstacle to the return of the refugees, in addition to the survival of terrorism in some areas to which they are supposed to return (…), is the siege of Syria” , in reference to the sanctions imposed by Western countries on your country, and Its head is the United States. He commented on Russian efforts in terms of “the possibility of easing, lifting or eliminating this blockade”, noting that the return of the refugees “needs to ensure the basic necessities necessary for their livelihood, such as water, electricity, schools … in addition on the subject of moving the economy. “

Putin: There is a good chance of ensuring the return of large numbers of refugees

For his part, Putin said, according to statements reported by the Kremlin, that as a result of “joint efforts” by Russia, Iran, an ally of Damascus, and Turkey that support the Syrian opposition, “the focus of terrorism in Syria has been destroyed and the rate of violence has decreased. ” He believed that “with the return of peace and tranquility to most Syrian lands, there is a good chance of ensuring the return of large numbers of refugees.” He noted that Russia will participate in the Damascus conference with a large delegation, which includes representatives from thirty Russian ministries and government agencies.
Since its outbreak in March 2011, the war in Syria has caused the displacement and displacement of more than half of the population within and outside the country, including more than five million and 500 thousand refugees registered with the United Nations High Commissioner. United for Refugees, who mainly fled to neighboring countries in Lebanon and Jordan. And Iraq and Turkey. Moscow, Damascus’s main ally, has been seeking the support of the international community for years to begin the reconstruction phase and the return of refugees, while donors link any aid to reach a political solution to the conflict. In exchange for Russian efforts, Washington is putting more pressure on the international community and donor countries to link the return of displaced Syrians to their countries and the rebuilding of the political record. He had passed the Caesar Law, which imposes harsh penalties on anyone who deals with the Syrian government.

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