Moscow regrets that there is no progress on sending a humanitarian convoy to Syria's Idlib, as the West insists on delivering aid via cross-border deliveries from Turkey, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"We regret the lack of progress in sending a joint convoy of the UN, ICRC and the Syrian Red Crescent Society to Idlib (Atareb and Daret-Izzah localities) through the contact lines. This operation was planned to be carried out on April 20. The SAR government has provided all the necessary permits, but for unclear reasons, the aid has not yet reached those in need, " the statement reads.
It's added that "at the same time, representatives of Western countries and humanitarian specialized agencies do not stop "sounding the alarm" in the UN security Council and talking about the deplorable situation in Idlib that requires an urgent response." "However, with one caveat – only through cross-border deliveries from Turkey. Such a peremptory defense of the cross-border mechanism at any cost, including the cost of suffering civilians, can not but cause regret, " the message reads.
"In this regard, it is necessary to recall once again that the cross - border mechanism was created in 2014 as a temporary and emergency measure, which in no case should go to the detriment of the establishment of humanitarian aid supplies in coordination with Damascus or be used to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic," the Ministry stressed.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from RIA Novosti