Putin: Almost all Syrian territory freed, including historic Christian regions

MOSCOW - 5 December 2017: Almost the entire territory of Syria, including historic Christian regions, has been liberated from terrorists, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said.

He stressed the importance of restoring peace to enable refugees of all faiths to return home, Russia Today reported.

“The situation in this country [Syria] is gradually changing. The Syrian armed forces, supported by the Russian military, have liberated from terrorists almost the whole territory of the country, including historic Christian regions,” Putin said on Monday at a meeting with the heads of Orthodox Christian congregations.

Moscow will help restore holy sites not only of Syria’s Christians, but also Muslims and Jews, the Russian leader stated.

“We will help also the members of other faiths, including Muslims, who, as we are well aware of, have also suffered greatly at the hands of bandits, terrorists and radicals,” Putin said. “We will also help Jews, a number of organizations have already reached us with a call for help in restoration of Judaic holy sites.”

Russia’s president reiterated the importance of a working group created by the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. The workgroup’s goal is to list the destroyed and churches in Syria in preparation for their reconstruction.

The return of the Christian population, as well as of the refugees of other faiths, might play the crucial role in restoration of peaceful life in the war-torn country, Putin stressed.