Resolving humanitarian problems in Syria is possible while respecting the country's sovereignty, without using the cross-border assistance mechanism bypassing Damascus' opinion, Russian Permanent Representative to the world organization Vasily Nebenzya said at the UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
"The severe humanitarian problems in Syria have a solution, and it does not lie in the prolongation of the cross-border mechanism," he said. - "We are not convinced by the argument that it is more convenient for humanitarian workers to work within its framework. We are sure that the goal of respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as we keep repeating, must be observed not only in words but also in deeds".
"Until our Western colleagues prove to us in words and deeds that they are committed to this task, there is no point in talking about extending the CBM. "We still have time before the 'X-hour', we hope that we will not waste it," Nebenzya added.
The Russian diplomat pointed out that the experience of closing cross-border aid centers in the past had shown that aid distributed inside the country by Damascus was more effective and reached its addressees more precise. He disagreed with the opinion of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, voiced earlier in the video, that Syria would face disastrous consequences without cross-border aid. "I was equally surprised when I heard the Secretary-General say in his opening remarks that supplies across the contact lines can never - I emphasize his word - replace the cross-border mechanism in its current amounts. Is that for us to read or translate? Does that mean that the cross-border mechanism remains forever? I don't see those words any other way."
In July 2020, the UN Security Council passed a resolution extending the cross-border assistance mechanism to Syria that has been in place since 2014. Initially, such supplies were carried out through four checkpoints - Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Hawa (on the border between Syria and Turkey), al-Yarubiya (on the border with Iraq) and Ramta (on the border with Jordan). Moscow and Damascus have insisted that this mechanism be phased out because more and more areas in Syria are returning to government control, so aid can be delivered from inside the country in coordination with Damascus, as prescribed by international humanitarian law.
In January 2020, when extending the mechanism, the Security Council left only two checkpoints on the border with Turkey in the resolution. In July, Russia and China vetoed a proposal to extend aid through two checkpoints, after which the Council adopted a resolution to extend operations only through Bab al-Hawa for a year. Another vote on extending the mandate of the cross-border assistance mechanism is expected by July 11.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Zuma \ TASS
Based on materials from TASS