Russia hopes for stepping up UNHCR's aid to Syrian refugee return
MOSCOW. Oct 5 (Interfax) - Moscow hopes that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will increase its aid to the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.
"We hope for stepping up efforts of the UNHCR and other international bodies to provide aid to the return of Syrian refugees and their reintegration in their homeland," the Russian Foreign Ministry information and press department said in a commentary dedicated to the 69th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee.
Last July, Russia came up with an initiative for voluntary return of refugees to Syria that became possible owing to successful operations backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces to eliminate terrorist groups on the largest part of Syria, the Foreign Ministry said.
"We believe that the return of Syrians will enable them to joint post-conflict restoration of their homeland and will ease the burden of receiving countries," the commentary reads.
"The UNHCR should proceed from the importance of prevention and political settlement of conflicts, which are the main cause of forced migration, and efforts to provide steady prerequisites in the countries of mass exodus of local residents for establishing the peaceful life and for the return of people to their homeland, and to focus on the return and reintegration of refugees," the Russian Foreign Ministry said with confidence.