Unilateral sanctions against Syria, as well as measures taken by the Ukrainian authorities against the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, are hitting ordinary citizens in the context of the spread of the coronavirus, Gennady Kuzmin, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, told at a meeting of the UN Security Council held via video link.
The diplomat drew attention to the importance of the UN Secretary-General's call for a cessation of hostilities to combat the pandemic. "But this will not be enough without a reminder of his call for the lifting of sanctions that may prevent countries from containing the pandemic," he stressed.
According to Kuzmin, the lifting of unilateral sanctions, including on Syria, is necessary to " ensure access to medical care, safe and affordable medicines, vaccines, personal protection equipment and food."
"The stifling sanctions are hitting ordinary Syrians, preventing the country's authorities from purchasing the necessary medical equipment, affecting humanitarian NGOs that are also afraid of being sanctioned," the diplomat was quoted as saying by TASS.
"Punitive measures can be even more shameful when they are used by the government of the country against its people, I am talking now about Ukraine <...> Kiev continues its harsh repressive policy towards Donetsk and Luhansk, which has already negatively affected more than five million residents in the conflict zone, "he added, stressing that Western countries"prefer not to pay attention to this and shift responsibility."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: fernando zhiminaicela / Pixabay