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US puts up obstacles hindering return of Syrian refugees, say Damascus, Moscow

According to the Russian-Syrian interdepartmental coordination headquarters, the American side benefits from the unstable situation in Syria in order to continue to justify its illegitimate presence and plunder natural resources belonging to Syrian people

MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. The US is implementing a set of measures to prevent the return of Syrian refugees to their country, a joint statement by the Russian-Syrian interdepartmental coordination headquarters said on Monday.

"Despite the colossal efforts the Syrian authorities have taken to create favorable conditions for the return of their citizens to their homes, the US and its allies continue to implement a whole set of measures including an unprecedented propaganda outreach campaign at keeping the refugees on the territory of Syria’s neighboring countries," the statement emphasized.

"We deem it essential to highlight the evaluation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regarding the prospects for the citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic who are located in Middle Eastern countries to return their native land, whereby over 70% hope to return to their places of permanent residence. As far as this is concerned, a logical question arises: Why has this not happened so far?" the document noted.

According to the headquarters, the American side benefits from the unstable situation in Syria in order to continue justifying its illegitimate presence and its plunder of natural resources belonging to Syrian people. "It is precisely this goal that information agencies controlled by the US disseminate falsified publications about the situation in Syria, alarming Syrians, and preventing their return home," the statement said.

At the same time, it is noted that it is precisely on the territory of the American controlled side in northeastern Syria, where a rapid exacerbation of the situation is witnessed in the Al-Hawl refugee camp where members of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia) remain active.

"With the connivance of the Americans, militants organized a delivery conduit of weapons, ammunition and means of communication to the camp’s premises. Courts created by jihadists function in Al-Hawl. Instances of murder and attempts on the lives of the camp’s residents who do not support radical extremism have become more frequent. Significant attention is given to the ideological brainwashing of minors in order to radicalize them and beef up the ranks of the militants," the document stressed.

On December 29, 2014, the Russian Supreme Court declared the Islamic State - IS - (before 2014 - the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIS) a terrorist organization. Their activities are outlawed in Russia.