Syria Has No Favorable Conditions For Return Of Refugees - Arab League's Secretary-General

Umer Jamshaid Published April 17, 2019 | 12:05 AM

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th April, 2019) There are still no favorable conditions for reconstruction of Syrian economy and refugees' return to the country, the Arab League's secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"It is necessary to provide Syrian citizens with schools, hospitals and all the necessities so that they can return home. The current conditions do not allow to start the process of refugees' return, as the reconstruction has not been launched yet," Gheit said.

The Arab League head pointed out that there were states that were ready to assist in Syria's reconstruction.

"But they believe that the political settlement should take place before [Syria] can be provided with economic and material assistance .

.. Now there is an issue of holding a political meeting between the opposition and the authorities as well as [creating] the political and constitutional platform, which will allow the intra-Syrian accord to be reached," Gheit added.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011. The victory over the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia) was declared in late 2017, and the political settlement as well as return of refugees and rebuilding the country after the war have come to the forefront since then.