Syrian premier complains about refugees mistreated in other countries, urges them to return
DAMASCUS. April 10 (Interfax) - Syrian refugees are being oppressed in the neighboring countries, Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-HAlqi has said.
"Refugees [from Syria] in the neighboring countries - Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon - are subjected to all kinds of attacks in breach of all international conventions and international agreements," he said on Sunday, responding to a question from Alexander Yushchenko (Communist Party), a member of the Russian parliamentary delegation currently in Syria.
"The problem of Syrian refugees in the neighboring countries is very politicized, it is being used for political and financial blackmail," he said.
The Syrian authorities appeal whenever possible to refugees in the neighboring and other countries, both directly and through public organizations urging them to return to the home country, promising them normal life
"We have been trying to persuade them to return since the very beginning of the crisis," the prime minister said.
As soon as the Syrian armed forces liberate a particular town, local authorities and administrations immediately start rebuilding the infrastructure, he said.
"Since the start of the crisis, thanks to the liberation of populated areas by the Syrian army some 1.7 million Syrian citizens have returned to their homes," al-Halqi said.
Furthermore, over the period it was possible to rebuild houses for accommodation, the infrastructure, to restore health care services, he said.
"Each year some 50 billion Syrian pounds are paid out to restore infrastructure in liberated areas and to pay victim compensations. A total of 518 temporary accommodation centers have been built for internally displaced persons, we are also building houses to accommodate them there," the Cabinet chief said.
The Russian parliamentary delegation arrived in Syria with a humanitarian mission on Saturday. It includes Senator Dmitry Sablin and Duma deputies Alexander Yushchenko and Sergei Gavrilov. A number of meetings with Syrian leadership representatives are expected during the visit.