West's sanctions hinder restoration of Syria - Russian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW. April 13 (Interfax) - There are forces which hinder the involvement of the United Nations' establishments in systematic work on the restoration of Syria's areas liberated from terrorists, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Bureaucratic hurdles, unfair distribution of donor contributions, the United States' and the European Union's sanctions, which significantly hinder potential humanitarian UN partners' ability to work on this track, are being used," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary.
On Friday, representatives of the Russian Center for reconciliation of opposing sides handed over a large batch of construction and repair equipment and materials to Damascus' suburb of Eastern Ghouta for restoration, it said.
"Units of equipment handed over to the Syrians include trucks, motorized cranes, refueling trucks, tank cars, bulldozers, garbage trucks. Pipes, cables, timber and chip plates were also handed over," the statement said.
"At a time when populated localities of Eastern Ghouta are returning to normal life after the liberation from terrorists, when locals are ready to return to their homes as soon as possible without fear, intensive efforts to restore the residential sector, infrastructure and economic facilities are especially in demand. We are convinced that international organizations' role in facilitating such work is particularly significant today," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.