Syria. The Russian military will carry out humanitarian actions.

1 Syria

The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that the decision of the international donor conference in Brussels to provide a humanitarian aid to Syria, without firstly lifting the one-sided sanctions from Syria, is a form of an economic terrorism. «The goal of the policy of the collective punishment of the Syrian people by the USA and the EU is to destabilize the situation in Syria» — the ’SANA’ news agency quoted the statement. It was noted that «the West supports the activities of the terrorist and separatist groups». The Syrian Foreign Ministry added that «the conference in Brussels, which is being held for the 5th time, has turned into an instrument of blackmail and pressure on Damascus. A significant part of the aid is being sent to the nearby countries and to areas outside the control of Syria’’. The Syrian Foreign Ministry denounced the UN co-chairmanship at the forum in Brussels, which took place without the participation of the Syrian government. Damascus considers such step to be disrespectful for the sovereignty of Syria, and a violation of the UN Charter.

2 Syria

The deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, Rear-Admiral Alexander Karpov, stated that on 1st and 2nd of April the Russian servicemen and military medics will carry out a ’Humanitarian Express’ action in the provinces of Raqqa and Hasakah. Alexander Karpov explained that the servicemen and military doctors will conduct humanitarian actions, and provide medical aid to the locals. Additionally, 2,000 food packages with a total weight of over 15 tons will be distributed as well.

3 Russia — the USA

The official representative of the Committee of the Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces, Colonel Dave Butler, announced that on Wednesday the chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milli, and the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Forces, and also the First Deputy Defense Minister, Army General Valery Gerasimov, held a telephone conversation. It was noted that they exchanged their views on the issues of mutual interest. «As always, both sides agreed to not disclose specific details of their conversation» — Dave Butler specified. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the conversation took place at the initiative of the USA.

4 The USA — Humanitarian situation in Syria

The US State Department Press Officer Ned Price stated that the USA are calling on Russia and China to agree to extend the mandate of the cross-border humanitarian aid mechanism for Syria. Earlier the US State Secretary Anthony Blinken made a similar appeal to Russia and China. On Monday, during a video conference of the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin stated that the West is politicizing the delivery of the humanitarian aid to the areas, controlled by Damascus. He added that the Western countries are silent about the negative impact of their one-sided sanctions on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

5 Azerbaijan — Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh

The Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev stated during a visit of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Alexei Overchuk, that the risk of escalation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is minimal. Ilham Aliyev noted that the post-conflict situation is going positively. The Kremlin press service reported that a telephone conversation took place between Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev. «The situation around Nagorno-Karabakh was discussed. It was pleasantly noted that the situation is generally stable. The ceasefire is being strictly observed» — the report concluded.

6 Russia — Completion of the mission in Laos

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that a squad from the Russian International Mine Action Center returned to Russia after completing their humanitarian demining mission in Laos. It was noted that 32 servicemen were brought back by a Russian military transport aircraft Il-76MD to the military airbase ’Chkalovsky’. The ministry added that from November of 2020 till March of 2021, the Russian specialists cleared more than 3.5 hectares of land in Xieng Khouang province. They have neutralized over a 1000 of explosive objects. Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ANNA NEWS.