Reuters: Russia says U.S. refusal to rebuild Syria a ploy to slow refugee return
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will help Lebanon return refugees to neighboring Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday, accusing the United States of impeding the general repatriation process by declining to assist in Syria’s reconstruction.
Lavrov also called on opposition groups in the rebel-held Syrian province of Idlib to distance themselves from the Nusra Front group, formerly the local branch of al Qaeda.
The province was hit by a wave of air strikes and shelling earlier this month, in a possible prelude to a government offensive to regain control.
“We agreed that Lebanon should not be the subject of foreign interference, a pawn in geopolitical games, or a hostage of the Syrian crisis and its negative consequences such as the problem of Syrian refugees,” Lavrov said after talks with his visiting Lebanese counterpart, Gebran Bassil.
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Update #1: Russia: West is obstructing aid to Syria, return of refugees (FOX News/AP)
Update #2: ‘Secret directive’ bans UN agencies from helping rebuild Syria until ‘political transition’ – Lavrov (RT)
WNU Editor: It will cost hundreds of billions to rebuild Syria. Russia does not have that type pf money to rebuild Syria .... but Syria has to be rebuild in order to buy the peace that Assad and his allies want.
