US State Department: Refugee Conference in Damascus is an attempt to use refugees as political pawns

The US State Department considered, in a statement published on its website, that the refugee conference organized by Russia and the Syrian government, in the Syrian capital Damascus from 11 to 12 November, was not credible to create the appropriate conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees to their country.

In its statement, the Foreign Ministry expressed its regret over "the regime’s endeavor, with Russian support, to use millions of vulnerable refugees as political pawns to claim the end of the ongoing conflict in Syria," blaming it for the deaths of more than 500,000 citizens, in addition to bombing many hospitals, and preventing humanitarian support for millions of Syrians.

It stressed that " These are not the actions of a government that can be trusted to determine when refugees might safely return, nor should Assad hold power over directing international reconstruction funds

The Foreign Ministry added, "We stand with countries that continue to host millions of refugees, and we remain the single largest humanitarian donor to the Syrian crisis."

The Foreign Ministry concluded its statement by saying: "The United States remains committed to the Syrian people with the content of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2,254, considering that a political solution is the only way to end the Syrian conflict."

T/S

ANHA