Religious Leaders Boost Efforts To Aid Return Of Syrian Refugees - Russia Defense Ministry

Religious leaders are intensifying their efforts aimed at ensuring the return of Syrian refugees, head of Russia's National Defense Control Center Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev said Thursday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) Religious leaders are intensifying their efforts aimed at ensuring the return of Syrian refugees, head of Russia's National Defense Control Center Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev said Thursday.

"On the sidelines of the 60th Damascus International Fair, Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun carried out significant work on consolidation of efforts of Syrian emigre business people aimed at the post-war reconstruction of the country. Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch [and All the East] John X while visiting Lebanon held a number of meetings with local officials and spiritual figures, during which he said that the internal political situation in Syria had improved and called for promotion of refugees' return," Mizintsev said at a meeting of Russian-Syrian headquarters coordinating the return of refugees.

He also pointed out that Pope Francis had supported the process of Syrian refugees' return, which from the pope's point of view must become a key priority for the whole international community.

Mizintsev said that restoration of full-fledged internal political life played a key role for the post-war revival of Syria.

"On September 16, municipal council elections took place. Despite the current difficulties, the leadership of Syria created all the necessary measures for the free expression of people's will. The opposition forces got an opportunity not to just express their opinion but to allow real and effective measures on reforming the governance system," he added.

Mizintsev also said that a number of countries continued to delay the process of refugees' return turning them against the Syrian government.

"A number of countries still do not take any measures to ensure the refugees' return. Some of them, shielding themselves with the authority of the UN high commissioner for refugees, are persistently turning the Syrian citizens living on their territory against the Syrian leadership and linking the issues related to the return of Syrian refugees to resignation of [Syrian] President Bashar Assad," the Russian official said.

He noted that other countries were delaying the process of Syrian refugees' return in order to get more international support for sheltering the Syrians.

Mizintsev also focused on the return of refugees from the Rukban camp.

"Despite measures taken, including active work with our Jordanian and US colleagues, no mutually acceptable solution of this issue has been found so far. I am sure that sooner or later, under the pressure of clear facts and the sincerity of the Syrian leadership in its efforts to return the country's citizens home, the situation will drastically change," he added.

Syria has been torn apart by civil war since 2011, with the government fighting numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations. Russia is assisting the country in returning to peace, being a guarantor of the ceasefire regime and having announced in late July the creation of a refugee center in Syria that would receive, relocate and accommodate civilians returning home.