MOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes the declared contributions for humanitarian assistance to Syria should be analyzed by the UN.
"In the interests of building confidence, it is important that the UN analyze the declared contributions and release materials stating specific recipients of the declared assistance and its specific forms," Lavrov told a press conference after meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid Mualem on Friday.
Lavrov said Russia will continue providing humanitarian assistance to people in Syria and refugees who have left Syria for other countries. "We are not hiding the recipients and forms of our assistance. We are hoping that other donors will also be transparent in their actions for the provision of donations that they claim to be humanitarian. Specifically, I mean the fairly serious amounts stated at a recent conference in Kuwait," he said.
Lavrov said Russia has pointed out "the readiness of the Syrian government, which was confirmed by the minister today, to take specific humanitarian steps in response to our address."
"This applies to specific proposals that are in some cases being implemented to deliver humanitarian cargo to populated areas in Eastern Guta and other areas," Lavrov said.
"The practical implementation of humanitarian actions requires interaction with armed opposition, which has a duty to ensure the security of humanitarian convoys," the minister said.