MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. Russia urges to set up an international coalition to clear the Syrian territory of mines, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Thursday.
The deputy foreign minister spoke on the eve of the conference entitled: "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region" in Brussels. The text of his speech was posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website on Thursday.
Today’s agenda includes the issues of assisting Syria in restoring its social and economic infrastructure, including measures to ensure electricity and water supply, organize the work of schools and hospitals in the districts liberated from terrorists and provide pupils with all the necessary things for a normal education process, he said.
- Russian defense chief calls on global community to pitch in to rebuild Syria
- Former terrorists volunteer to rebuild Damascus outskirts
- Russia suggests setting up international coalition for demining operations in Syria
- Russian sappers to test new demining equipment in Syria’s Palmyra
- Ancient citadel of Aleppo demined
It is inhuman to link the solution of this task with the "after reaching an agreement" period and advance conditions under this pretext as to what this agreement should be, the Russian diplomat said.
The ravaged economy rebuilding could serve as a strong impetus for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their home places, he said.
Such efforts would reduce the social base of the armed, including terrorist, activity in Syria, Gatilov said.
"We should not miss the deplorable state of Palestinian refugees who have found shelter in Syria. Urgent measures are required for the humanitarian mine clearance on the Syrian territory, in particular, to preserve for future generations the invaluable cultural treasures in the places where terrorists and radicals were active," the deputy foreign minister said.
"We are urging to create an international coalition for demining the Syrian territory. Russia is already actively working on this task. We are urging all the partners not indifferent to the preservation of historical heritage to give up well-known contradictions and make their fair share of contribution to the common cause that requires, among other things, considerable financial investments," he said.
"We expect the UN, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and UNESCO to join actively these efforts," the Russian deputy foreign minister said.
"We are ready for further equitable cooperation on a solid international law basis with all those who wish to make constructive contribution to the Syrian settlement," Gatilov said.