During an interview with RTS channel Carla Del Ponte spoke about Russia’s involvement in Syria and whether it has changed the situation positively.
“Personally, I believe that Russian intervention in Syria is a very good thing when it comes to dealing with terrorist groups,” she said.
Del Ponte said that she sees Russian involvement as positive ‘because someone has finally attacked terrorist groups such as Daesh, al-Nusra etc.’
“They are probably not very good at distinguishing terrorists from each other. So it's not so good in that sense. But we are following the situation.”
In early October, when addressing reporters at the United Nations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on accusations that Russian warplanes "had been hitting the wrong targets in Syria" by saying: "If it looks like a terrorist, if it acts like a terrorist, if it walks like a terrorist, if it fights like a terrorist, it's a terrorist, right?"
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with the country’s government fighting multiple opposition factions and terrorist groups, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front.
Russia has been conducting precision airstrikes against Daesh positions in Syria at the request of President Bashar Assad since September 30.
The devastating result of the Syrian crisis has been the refugee migration into Europe as people were forced to leave their home towns. Looking at whether Europe is doing everything in its power to help these refugees, Del Ponte said that Europe is not doing what it should.
“The power of our commission is in no way connected with the refugees. But of course, we must do more and Europe and the rest have to do a lot more.”
She further said that, “More generosity should be shown, they must be taken in, fed and settled in. They should be given hope for life, because all of these people will return to Syria as soon as there will be peace.”
