Russia had demanded changes to the aid operation that has allowed since 2014 convoys to cross into Syria from Turkey and Jordan without the approval of the Assad regime in Damascus.
Russian Deputy Ambassador Vladimir Safronkov argued that the situation in Syria had "changed radically" over the past three years and that cross-border aid was "a legacy of the past."
"We think it is important to gradually draw down this rudimentary scheme which has worked for Syria's division," said Safronkov.
The resolution put forward by Egypt, Japan and Sweden was adopted by a vote of 12 in favor, Russia, China and Bolivia abstaining.
[dailysabah.com/AFP]
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Moscow voiced concern over the fact that relief aid was being delivered only to areas controlled by armed groups.
ReplyDeleteActing Charge d' Affairs of the Syrian permanent delegation to the United Nations Munzer Munzer has stressed that the armed groups in eastern Ghouta in Damascus Countryside are besieging civilians, using them as human shields and preventing their access to humanitarian aid...
ReplyDeleteHe pointed out that the Syrian government has stressed that the UN staff working in Syria should avoid dealing with any "separatist entities" or illegal "local councils" or unlicensed non-government organizations, as many of these bodies have close links with armed terrorist groups.
Munzer also said that the Syrian government is astonished at using terms like "besieged areas" by those who prepared the report when talking about the situation in Eastern Ghouta, while they keep ignoring the fact that the armed groups in these area are besieging civilians, using them as human shields and preventing their access to humanitarian aid. The armed groups capture the aid convoys and distribute their contents on the groups' members and sell them in high prices to needy people, he clarified.
He renewed the Syrian government's call on those who prepared the report to talk openly about the deeply negative impacts of the unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the United States, the EU and some other countries on Syria, stressing that these sanctions have affected all basic sectors as well as the activities of the UN agencies and the foreign NGOs working in Syria.
syriatimes