The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia published a comment on a a vote on two draft resolutions on extending the authorization for the mechanism that allows cross-border delivery of humanitarian aid to the Syrian Arab Republic without agreeing it with the Syrian government.
Cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries to the Syrian Arab Republic began in 2014, when the country was faced with a grave humanitarian situation against the backdrop of terrorist mayhem, while the Syrian government could not control a large part of its territory.
However, in the past five years, the situation has changed radically: the terrorists have been almost completely eliminated and the Syrian authorities have been restoring the unity and territorial integrity of the country, as well as working on providing urgent humanitarian aid, including with the support of the UN.
In accordance with international humanitarian law, humanitarian aid must be delivered upon an agreement with the government of the recipient country.
The Syrian government has officially requested that the UN stop cross-border humanitarian assistance.
In the framework of their commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, the international community should take into account and respect the Syrian government’s request.
The Russian side prepared and submitted a draft resolution that seeks to extend the delivery of humanitarian aid via two border crossings in Idlib by six months.
"However, the Western partners, apparently guided by political considerations and not the needs of the civilians in Syria, voted against our draft. It is obvious that to them, the cross-border mechanism was important only as a tool to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic," the message of the Russian MFA reads.
Such actions, as noted, are not only a blatant violation of all provisions of international law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. They are a glaring example of disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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