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Russia calls on US to withdraw troops from area round al-Tanf and cede control to Damascus

Russia insists on transparent control over humanitarian cargoes dispatched to the Rukban camp and warns against financing of extremists, the foreign ministry said

MOSCOW, December 10. /TASS/. Russia calls on the United States to withdraw its troops from the 55-kilometer zone around Syria’s al-Tanf and cede control over this territory to the Syrian government, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday.

"The entire responsibility for the deplorable situation in the (Rukban refugee) camp rests with the United States which illegally occupies this region of the United Nations member state," the ministry said. "We insists that as long as the camp is operating the American side must ensure normal living conditions for people staying at the Rubkan camp."

"We call on the United States to immediately withdraw its troops from the area around al-Tanf and cede control over this territory to the Syrian government, which will take care of its citizens," the ministry stressed.

According to the ministry, Russia insists on transparent control over humanitarian cargoes dispatched to the Rukban camp and warns against financing of extremists. "For our part, we believe that it is totally unacceptable to continue to finance extremists who do not need anything, the way our American partners actually suggest," the ministry stressed. "It is also impossible to rely in the future on just assurances of aid delivery to those in need. Real and transparent control is essential."

The ministry noted that the United Nations is looking at a possibility to dispatch another humanitarian convoy to Rukban in mid-December. "Currently, the United Nations is looking at the idea of organizing another humanitarian convoy to Rukban in mid-December," the ministry said. "Despite the fact that United Nations humanitarian division wants to correct mistakes made during the first convoy, namely to enhance security and revise the non-transparent scheme of the delivery and distribution of cargoes, the American side keeps on insisting on the old procedure.".

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