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Conflict in Syria

Russia's Defense Ministry names countries that help ensure return of Syrian refugees

MOSOCW, August 1. /TASS/. Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey render every assistance to efforts to ensure the return of Syrian refugees and restore stability in that country and Russia’s initiatives related to that process, Head of Russia’s National Defense Control Center Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev said on Wednesday at a meeting of the interdepartmental coordination headquarters supervising the return of refugees to Syria.

In particular, he pointed to cooperation between Syria and Lebanon in this matter. "A joint committee is being set up to coordinate efforts to ensure the return of Syrian refugees with the participation of representatives of relevant government agencies, including the Defense Ministry and the Lebanese Red Crescent Society," he stressed.

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Mizintsev noted that Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi clearly outlined his country’s stance to continue cooperation with Syria in this area. "The official Amman deals with the matters of forming the joint operation headquarters, establishes direct contacts with the relevant Syrian agencies making the most of the potential of the Amman monitoring center, with Russia, the US and Jordan involved in its work," he said.

Mizintsev noted that Jordan plans to complete this work as soon as possible and has begun organizing the gradual return of Syrian refugees to their home country.

"Egypt’s leadership is successfully working as a mediator between the Syrian leadership and opposition representatives to create conditions for the safe return of Syrian citizens. The country’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pointed out at a youth forum in Cairo that Russia and Egypt see eye to eye on the issue," Mizintsev said.

"Other countries likewise express support for Russia’s initiatives to ensure the return of Syrian refugees to their home country. For example, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a four-party summit on the situation in Syria would be held in Istanbul on September 7. Representatives of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey will take part in it," he stressed.

He also noted that France is intensifying its mediation efforts to restore stability in Syria." "French special envoy for Syrian affairs Francois Senemaud pointed to Iran’s important role in resolving the Syrian crisis at a meeting with representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Hossein Jaberi Ansari," he concluded.

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