Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Moscow, SANA- Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva Gennady Gatilov has affirmed that the economic sanctions imposed on Syria by the U.S. and EU member states hinder the exerted efforts for fighting the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and for delivering aid to the needy.
During the Valdai International Discussion Club online discussions which were titled “Combating COVID-19 in Conflict: The Syrian Experience”, Gatilov called on Western diplomats to prevent from politicizing this file and to provide support for Syria’s efforts in this domain and not to limit the aid to the areas which are under the control of terrorists.
The Russian diplomat hailed the relentless efforts exerted by Syria and its speedy response and serious stances for preventing the outbreak of the pandemic such as opening labs, hospitals and quarantine centers in the all the Syrian provinces.
He noted that the World Health Organization highly appreciated those efforts which Syria has exerted in a time when it has been facing the crimes of terrorists over the past years who have systematically destroyed health facilities in the country.
Gatilov affirmed Russia’s support to the efforts exerted by UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, criticizing the behavior of some Western states which seek to undermine the efforts for reaching a peaceful solution in the country.
Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Middle East and North Africa Fabrizio Carbone, for his part, affirmed the organization’s support for the steps which aim to enhance Syria’s stance with regard to combating the coronavirus pandemic and achieving health stability.
In the same context, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Syria Philip Spoerri asserted that the economic sanctions imposed on Syria negatively affect the health condition of the Syrian people, calling for lifting them to achieve an economic development and achieving progress in Syria.
Spoerri warned that many of the productive organizations and institutions can’t work due to the economic sanctions imposed on Syria.
Ruaa al-Jazaeri
