Alwaght- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.
In a press conference with the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Thursday, Lavrov said that terrorists were almost completely eliminated in Eastern Ghouta, adding that there is misinformation about what happened in Ghouta and false information was provided.
"Unfortunately, the operation - and we are used to it already - was accompanied by a disguised campaign in support of the militants," Lavrov said
"Fake media reports were used as tools about hunger as a result of the siege, about indiscriminate bombings, which allegedly included the use of prohibited arms," the Russian foreign minister said.
"Exaggerated reports on allegations of Syrian state troops’ use of chemical weapons were once again in action, despite the absurdity of such allegations even from the military and tactical point of view," Lavrov said.
The majority of militants have been evacuated from Syria’s Eastern Ghouta, which is a suburb of Damascus, and the territory is now in full control of the Syrian government troops, Lavrov pointed out.
"As of now, the majority of the militants have been evacuated," Lavrov said. "Efforts to restore peaceful life are underway and 90% of Eastern Ghouta is under control of government forces. It is extremely important to render assistance to internally displaced civilians," Lavrov noted. "We hope that the UN will increase its participation in collective efforts to assist the residents of districts, which were subjected to devastation as a result of terrorists’ actions, so that peaceful citizens return to their homes."
Over the past few weeks, Syria and Russia have cornered foreign-backed militants in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, as part of their campaign to liberate civilians holed up there and end terrorist and militant attacks from the suburb on the capital.
Eastern Ghouta fell to terrorists and militants in 2012, months after Syria plunged into crisis, and has since served as a terrorist's' launch pad for fatal mortar attacks against residents and infrastructure in the capital.
