Lavrov rejects Steinmeier's proposal to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo by air
The heads of the German and Russian Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Syria and Ukraine at a recent press conference. Sergey Lavrov did not support Frank-Walter Steinmeier's proposal on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Aleppo by air.
The German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, appealed to Russia with a call to promote the signing of an armistice between the conflicting parties in Syria to deliver humanitarian aid to the Syrian city of Aleppo. "I think guns should be silenced for people to be able to provide, at a minimum, the most necessary items," the head of the German Foreign Ministry said on Monday, August 15, 2016 in Yekaterinburg during a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The German Minister made a proposal to deliver humanitarian aid to the residents of besieged Aleppo by air and emphasized that Russia bears a special responsibility for what is happening in Syria.
Sergey Lavrov did not support the proposal. According to him, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Aleppo by air could cause the cargo to fall into the hands of the militants which would strengthened their position. "We see a very big risk that due to weather conditions and the constantly changing situation on the ground that this humanitarian cargo may not go to those for whom it is intended," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by Interfax.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia added that the initiative of the humanitarian aid delivery to Aleppo by air must be agreed upon by the Syrian government. However, he agreed that periodic cessation of hostilities for three hours for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Aleppo is not enough. "Frank-Walter has asked for a pause in hostilities of up to three hours a day. And that is not enough. Of course, this is not enough," Lavrov said.
Earlier, the Russian Army announced that it would periodically stop the fighting to enable civilians to receive necessities. The report said that every day starting on Thursday, August 11, from 10:00 to 13:00 local time there "will be an established humanitarian window during which all fighting, air strikes and artillery will be stopped."
The Foreign Ministers of Germany and Russia also discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine during the conference. Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed hope that despite the renewed relations between Kiev and Moscow, the chances of a political settlement of the conflict in the Donbas region still remain and called for granting autonomy to Donetsk and Luhansk.
Sergei Lavrov, in turn, said that the responsibility for the lack of progress in the conflict in eastern Ukraine lies on the Ukrainians. "The implementation of plans are being inhibited by the authorities in Kiev, who want to once again discuss the Minsk Agreements," the Russian Minister said.