Borodavkin: EU sanctions affect Syrian people first and foremost

Geneva, SANA – Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Alexey Borodavkin said that the European Union’s illegitimate sanctions against Syria affect the Syrian people first and foremost.

In an interview with Sputnik news agency published on Friday, Borodavkin said that “The position of the European Union surprises us, as regardless of a ceasefire in Syria and the cooperation with Damascus over the delivery of humanitarian aid, [the European Union] continues its illegitimate economic sanctions against Syria, which first and foremost affects Syrian civilians and, in particular, on the internal movement of individuals.”

He added that the EU should realize that lifting sanctions and providing proper living conditions are the best way to help the Syrians and encourage them not to emigrate to Europe, noting that the Syrian government have permission for UN humanitarian aid deliveries to the besieged areas, and that such step helped increase the amount of aid delivered to people in need.

He highlighted the Russian and American diplomats’ joint efforts to make cessation of hostilities in Syria a success, adding “We realize that there are powers, including terrorist organizations, which attempt to foil the agreement, and the Russian and American diplomats are cooperating together to prevent such a scenario.”

Borodavkin expressed hope to unify efforts among all parties concerned to combat ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terrorist organizations.

“Moscow hopes that the rationality of Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria, will prevail and he will decide to invite the Syrian Kurds to participate in the intra—Syrian dialogue,” said Borodavkin.

Rasha Raslan / Hazem Sabbagh

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