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Refugee crisis in Europe

Russian Foreign Ministry sees mass influx of refugees into Europe as humanitarian disaster

According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the crisis with the migrant exodus from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe may have been planned

Migrants and refugees disembarking from a vessel after their arrival from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos AP Photo/Santi Palacios

Migrants and refugees disembarking from a vessel after their arrival from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos

© AP Photo/Santi Palacios

MOSCOW, December 24./TASS/. Russia sees a mass influx of refugees into Europe as a humanitarian disaster, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

Refugee crisis in Europe

"We are watching with deep concern the development of the situation connected with mass arrivals of refugees to Europe," she said, adding that in essence it was a humanitarian disaster.

According to Zakharova, the crisis with the migrant exodus from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe may have been planned.

"We are watching with deep concern the development of the situation connected with mass arrivals of refugees to Europe from the Middle East and North Africa," she said, adding that in essence it was a humanitarian disaster.

"It has become the result of irresponsible and short-sighted interference in internal affairs of sovereign states with an aim of their destabilization and a violent change of unwanted governments," she said.

The diplomat drew attention to a recent article in western press saying the actions of the American administration were well designed and that the task was to change the regime in Syria according to a plan.

"It can be argued that this was done spontaneously and the crisis with the exodus from the Middle East is a result of an ill-considered," she added. "It seems to me it is the result of a considered policy. At least many publications say this," Zakharova noted.

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Foreign policy Refugee crisis

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