Russia warns against politicising humanitarian issues in Syria

Attempts to politicize humanitarian issues in Syria will negatively affect the future of talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday. "The attempts of some countries to artificially politicize humanitarian issues are absolutely unacceptable," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told reporters. Moscow would do everything to secure progress in the Geneva talks, which are due to resume on Monday. The Geneva talks are expected to implement the 2012 Geneva Communique, which calls for an end to violence in Syria and the establishment of a transitional government. The spokesman blamed Syrian opposition groups for hampering the delivery of international humanitarian aid. Opposition groups shelled the convoys, broke down humanitarian aid supplies, stole consignments, and attacked medical stuff and facilities, he said. Lukashevich also said that radical opposition groups used civilians as human shields to undermine the efforts of moderate opposition groups in reconciliation with the government. Syria missed Wednesday's interim deadline to hand over its entire stockpile of toxic chemical materials. Lukashevich explained that the delay had objective reasons as armed opposition groups attacked chemical weapons storages in violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2118, which suggests all Syrian parties should facilitate the secure removal of chemical weapons from the country.