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Russian diplomat: Using false information in assessing situation in Syria is inadmissible

The fight against human rights violations in Syria should not hinder the search for a political settlement, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister says
Destroyed buildings in a street in Syrian town of Salma Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry's Press Office/TASS
Destroyed buildings in a street in Syrian town of Salma
© Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry's Press Office/TASS

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. It is unacceptable to use unreliable information while assessing the human rights situation in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov and Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria Paulo Pinheiro said at the meeting on Wednesday.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues related to the commission’s activities.

"There was an exchange of information in the context of preparation of reports by the commission on the situation in Syria, the collection of data on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by terrorist groups in Syria," the ministry said. "The Russian side paid special attention to the need for a balanced approach to assessing the situation in Syria, the inadmissibility of using false information."

"It was stressed that the fight against human rights violations in Syria, just as in any other conflict area, should not hinder the search for a political settlement," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "[The two sides] expressed the common opinion that there is no alternative to joining forces of the world community in combating international terrorism and providing humanitarian aid to Syria’s civilian population."