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Intl. conference on Syrian refugees’ return kicks off in Damascus

Muhammad Ali

Press TV, Damascus

The first international conference on Syrian refugees’ return kicked off in Damascus. Representatives of 27 states, including the UN as an observer, the Red Cross and other local NGOs participated in the conference.

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad addressed the conference online. He thanked Iran and Russia for their support to the Syrian people and condemned the economic siege imposed by the West and the US.

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov said in a statement delivered by Russian president’s special envoy to Syria that some states continue to support terrorist organizations and politicize the case of Syrian refugees, holding them responsible for the suffering of millions of them.

Iran’s assistant FM called for setting up an international fund for reconstruction in Syria, reiterating Iran’s stance that focuses on reaching a political solution for the Syrian crisis and supporting its people. He pointed out that some sides tried to block the conference for political goals.

The two-day conference discusses ways and means to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees. The Syrian government is expected, at the end of this conference, to announce new measures and laws that would ease the process for those who wish to come back. According to the UN, over 5 million Syrians have fled the country during the war.

If any of the millions of Syrian refugees would think about returning back home, security and a good economy would be among their first demands. What the Syrian government wants to say here is that it wants all Syrians to return and rebuild their country. In short, the conference is a mayday to the international community for a lift of economic sanctions on the war torn country.


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