Senator Ozerov welcomes U.S. efforts to create safety zones for refugees in Iraq, Syria
MOSCOW. March 22 (Interfax) - The head of the Federation Council defense and security committee, Viktor Ozerov has welcomed the United States' decision to create refugee safety zones in Syria and Iraq, provided it does so with the approval of these countries.
"If the U.S. is ready to create a safe stay zone for refugees, if it is not a reservation but a place where humanitarian and medical assistance will be provided, one can only welcome this," Ozerov told Interfax on Wednesday.
"In principle this is the right thing. This is precisely what the joining of efforts is about. The people, before they have returned to their homes, need food, heating, medical assistance," the senator said.
The creation of such zones requires approval of the authorities in Iraq and Syria, he said.
"Creating such places for citizens to stay without the consent of the Syrian and Iraqi leadership would not be quite right," Ozerov said, adding that "this should not be done overbearingly."
Earlier on Wednesday U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the U.S. was taking steps to form stability zones in Iraq and Syria to ensure refugees return to their homes.