Alexander Lavrentiev, the Russian President’s Special Representative for Syrian settlement, announced that Russia has observed attempts by third parties to exploit tensions in the Middle East to destabilize Syria. Speaking at a press conference following the 22nd international Astana-format meeting on Syria, Lavrentiev noted, “We are seeing attempts by certain external parties to leverage the regional tensions to further destabilize Syria itself. There are concerns that we may witness a sharp escalation of violence in southern Syria.”
Lavrentiev also expressed concern over radical Islamic groups based in Syria’s Idlib de-escalation zone, stating, "These groups may be tempted to take advantage of the challenges faced by the Syrian Arab Republic to seize new territories and launch offensive operations against government forces.” He stressed that such actions would not lead to peace or stability in Syria but would instead spark a new wave of violence.
The Situation with Refugees
Lavrentiev further addressed the refugee crisis, highlighting the economic strain it places on Syria. “Syria’s economy is in a challenging situation. The presence of such a large number of people seeking safety requires significant financial resources,” he explained, adding that Russia has discussed this issue with Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria. Lavrentiev urged the international community to provide additional funds to support the proper living conditions of refugees, both within Syria and in neighboring countries.
According to Lavrentiev, around 400,000 refugees have arrived in Syria. Emphasizing the humanitarian aspect, he said, “We hope that humanitarian assistance will increase not only in Lebanon but also within Syria, including central areas under Syrian government control as well as territories outside their control.”
The Astana-format meeting on Syria, involving Russia, Iran, and Turkey, is being held in Kazakhstan on November 11-12. Its agenda includes efforts toward a comprehensive settlement in Syria, the release of hostages, locating missing persons, addressing the humanitarian situation, and mobilizing international support for post-conflict reconstruction in Syria.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: SALVATORE DI NOLFI\EPA\TASS
Based on TASS materials