Head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Abdulrahman Mustafa urged the European Union against accepting a Russian plan to return Syrian refugees back to their homeland before a political transition is reached in the conflict.
Efforts should first be exerted towards providing a suitable and safe environment for their return, he said during a meeting with EU representative Lara Scarpetta.
“The political solution should not be separated from the return of refugees and reconstruction efforts,” he added.
“Legal guarantees must be provided to the refugees and the United Nations and relevant organizations must be involved in such a process,” Mustafa stated.
The refugee return is not limited to logistic and financial details, but it must encompass human rights that have been violated by the regime, he said.
Furthermore, he stressed that the refugees must voluntarily return to their country.
