Lavrov: We are ready to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria under certain conditions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that Russia is ready to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria with the European Union and the United States of America, if those countries realize the real problems and the responsibility they bear towards them.

Lavrov said: “Russia is ready to discuss the humanitarian situation in Syria with the European Union and Western countries in a way that includes all aspects, if the impact of these factors on the humanitarian situation is recognized.”

He added, “Our Western partners must abandon unilateral interpretations of the status quo in Syria.”

Lavrov considered that the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria is due to the continuation of economic sanctions and the illegal presence of US forces in the eastern Euphrates.

He accused several European countries and the United States of obstructing the process of returning Syrian refugees to Syria. He also accused the American side of exploiting the wealth of the eastern region, especially oil, and using the money returned from it to finance the Syrian Democratic Forces.

He considered that Western countries are working to collect humanitarian aid and bring it into Syria without any participation by the Assad government, in violation of United Nations rules.

Sergey Lavrov made the remarks during a press conference he held with the Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Helga Schmid, on Monday.

Russia has threatened on more than one occasion to veto a project to extend the mechanism for the entry of international aid into Syria through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey.

Bab al-Hawa crossing is the only remaining artery for humanitarian aid to enter northern Syria, where the United Nations sends approximately 1,000 trucks per month to distribute them to more than 2.4 million Syrians.

Last year, Russia, with the support of China, prevented the Security Council from authorizing the delivery of international aid from three crossings, with the exception of Bab al-Hawa crossing, the last crossing point through which this aid enters.

It is noteworthy that the UN Security Council will vote on the tenth of next July on a draft resolution to extend the work of the mechanism for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria through Bab al-Hawa crossing.