MOSCOW. Feb 10 (Interfax) - Moscow refutes claims that the Russian Aerospace Forces' operation in Syria boosts the refugee influx in Europe, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov has said.
"This is total nonsense," he told Interfax in an interview, commenting on the claims that Russian air strikes in Syria were allegedly catalyzing migration of refugees to Europe.
"We have never been shown any evidence, any photo of refugee flows triggered by operations of our Aerospace Forces," the deputy minister said.
"This is an attempt to shift the blame. Quite the opposite, operations of our Aerospace Forces and the Syrian army create conditions for the return of many temporarily displaced persons home, to the territory of Syria," Meshkov said.
Moscow is positive that "the migrant problem needs a comprehensive solution, and conditions for a normal life need to be created in countries from where the migrants are coming," the deputy minister said.
"From this angle, it would be more efficient to help economic restoration of those countries and the achievement of peace agreements in conflict regions rather than to invest in refugee camps," the senior diplomat said.
"We would like to hope that our European partners, who are taking in those refugees, will act in strict compliance with international humanitarian law and create worthy conditions for living in places where [the refugees] have come," he said.
Statistically, the number of Syrians amongst migrants who choose the Turkish route has been declining compared to other countries of the region, Meshkov said.
"By the way, the real nationality of those migrants is a big question, as most of them come to Europe without ID. This is why we think that the migrant problem needs a comprehensive solution," the deputy minister said.