Russian diplomat says Damascus and Moscow are facing propaganda war

GENEVA, October 21. /TASS/. A propaganda war continues against Damascus and Moscow, Russia’s envoy to the UN and other representations in Geneva Alexei Borodavkin said commenting on speeches by representatives of Western countries and the Persian Gulf countries at the special session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is devoted to the situation in Syria’s Aleppo.

"We, unfortunately, see a biased discussion of the situation in Syria, including in Aleppo, and another attempt of the information propaganda war against Damascus and Moscow," he said.

"Falsifications, distortions of what is happening in that region of the Syrian Arab Republic are repeated from one into another speech delivered by Western delegations and some delegations from the Persian Gulf countries," the diplomat said stressing "it all looks very unworthy."  

Gunmen respond to Aleppo humanitarian pause by opening fire

Insurgents opened fire in response to the humanitarian pause in Syria’s Aleppo. The gunmen breached the humanitarian pause in eastern Aleppo and other measures dictated by humanitarian considerations, including the evacuation of the sick and wounded. "Three Russian officers were wounded yesterday, while the corridors that are supposed to be used by civilians to leave the city have come under sniper fire," the diplomat said. "Inside Aleppo, those who try to express disagreement with the gunmen and encourage evacuation from that part of the city are massacred."

"Our, so to speak, partners at the UN Human Rights Council fail to notice all this, they do not want to notice this, and are deliberately keeping quiet about this," the diplomat said, adding that, in the meantime, numerous slanderous accusations against Damascus and Moscow can be heard there. "This is unworthy and deserves the strongest condemnation," he said.

Humanitarian pause in Aleppo may be extended again

The humanitarian pause in the Syrian city of Aleppo may be extended, Borodavkin told TASS.

“The Syrian Army and the Russian Aerospace Force have declared the humanitarian pause in hostilities and are ready to extend it, provided that Jabhat al-Nusra (terror group outlawed in Russia) and the opposition groups allied with it do not violate the ceasefire.”

The diplomat stressed that the Russian and Syrian military “have done everything possible to ensure the exodus of civilians from eastern Aleppo, evacuation of the sick and wounded, and provide the Jabhat al-Nusra militants and the members of the opposition groups joining al-Nusra, with an opportunity to pull out.” 

Expert talks on East Aleppo in Geneva 

Preliminary results of the Geneva consultations between Russian, the US and other military experts offer cautious optimism, Borodavkin told TASS. He expressed hope further contacts would bring positive results.

"Preliminary results of the work done by military experts, whose round of negotiations was over yesterday (October 20) offer some cautious optimism," the diplpmat believes. "We hope further contacts will bring positive results."

Consultations between military experts from Russia, the US and some other countries were held in Geneva on October 19-20. They were devoted to distinguishing between the moderate opposition and terrorists in East Aleppo.