Any return of Syrian refugees from countries across the region must be conducted on a strictly voluntary basis, the United Nations stressed today, after Moscow unveiled plans to cooperate with Washington on the issue.
Russia's defense ministry said Friday that working together on the safe return of Syrian refugees was one of the points of agreement reached between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at their inaugural summit in Helsinki.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed the issue had featured in the presidents' talks, with any return to be carried out "at the right time" through a "voluntary mechanism."
Asked about the prospect, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters he was "not aware that we have been involved in those direct talks." He went on to stress: "As a matter of principle, the return of people to their home should always be voluntary and done in dignity and in safety." "It is up to people to... no one should be forced to return."
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