BEIRUT, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said on Tuesday that the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland is not related to a political solution in the country, the National News Agency reported.
"Syrian refugees must return to their homeland. We will cooperate with all parties who are willing to help in this area including Syrian authorities," Zasypkin said during his meeting with Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi.
This is a humanitarian issue and it is in the interest of everybody to work towards this goal, he added.
The ambassador called on all parties to assist in the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland without imposing any political conditions.
Zasypkin said that the Russians working in this area made sure that returning Syrian refugees are safe and they are receiving all needed help and facilities from Syrian authorities.
More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the Lebanese government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.
To facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, Russia drafted a strategy and presented it to the Lebanese authorities.
The strategy aims at securing the return of 890,000 Syrian refugees to their homeland.
