Syria, Russia say US not letting stability return to Syria

Syrian and Russian officials say the United States continues to impede the restoration of stability in the country through the imposition of economic sanctions, arguing Washington is using various methods of economic and political pressure on international bodies and organizations to turn a blind eye on the repercussions of such bans.

“The US and its allies continue, by all means, to undermine stability in Syria. All US claims of willingness to provide the Syrian nation with assistance are false. These unlawful sanctions completely strangle Syria’s economy,” the Russian and Syrian Joint Coordination Committees on Repatriation of Syrian Refugees said in a joint statement released on Thursday.

The statement further noted that the Damascus government continues to make strenuous efforts to secure suitable and proper conditions for the return of Syrian refugees, reconstruct industrial and agricultural installations, create job opportunities despite the difficult economic situation in the country and combat terrorism.

Unilateral US sanctions crimes against humanity: Syria

Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has denounced unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against the war-stricken country as "crimes against humanity”.

The joint committees then called on the international community to pressure the US and its allies to abandon their inhumane policies against Syria, and to embrace the international law and principles of the United Nations.

Earlier on Thursday, Russia’s foreign minister said sanctions imposed on Syria by the United States and other Western countries target all Syrian people and obstruct the reconstruction process in the war-torn country.

“The reconstruction process in Syria is not easy because of the sanctions imposed by the US and the West, and these sanctions do not target the Syrian government only,” Sergei Lavrov told a joint press conference held with his Turkish and Qatari counterparts, Syria's official news agency SANA reported.

According to Lavrov, the sanctions prevent the realization of a solution for humanitarian problems in Syria.

Meanwhile, Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva Hussam Eddin Ala said on Thursday his country is facing a systematic terrorist campaign aimed at its unity and territorial integrity.

“Syria has withstood an economic siege that has affected basic sectors in the country, and the occupation that continues to loot its natural resources,” Ala said.

Lavrov: West's sanctions on Syria contravene UN Security Council resolutions

The Russian foreign minister says sanctions against Syria contravene UN Security Council resolutions.

He called for an immediate removal of sanctions imposed on Syria, emphasizing that such bans are in violation of human rights and obstruct the work of international humanitarian organizations.

The Syrian diplomat also argued that the so-called Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic has so far failed to address the challenges facing Syria and the sufferings of Syrian people.

“Over the past years, the Syrian government has dutifully protected Syrians against the crimes of terrorist groups besides the occupation of US, Turkish and Israeli forces whose conducts pose grave threats to sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and increase sufferings of Syrians,” Ala pointed out.

He went on to say that militants of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the US, continue to steal oil and wheat in northeastern Syria, smuggle them out of the country through illegal border crossings, brutally suppress peaceful protesters demanding the return of state institutions, and impede the work of humanitarian agencies.

Ala concluded that US and European Union sanctions are meant to starve the Syrian nation and collectively punish the people for their political choices.

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