Al-Jaafari: Syrian-Russian ties have reached the level of alliance and fraternity

Moscow – Syria’s Ambassador to Russia Bashar Al-Jaafari has stressed that the relations between Syria and Russia have reached the level of alliance and fraternity during recent years, pointing out that the peaceful communications between the people of Russia and the Arab peoples have eliminated any historical hostilities between the two sides.

Al-Jaafari made the remarks on Friday during a ceremony held marking the 141st Foundation Anniversary of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.

“Presidents Bashar Al-Assad and Vladimir Putin laid the foundation of friendship between our two countries in the year 2000. This relation has developed to reach the level of alliance and fraternity in recent years,” Al-Jaafari said.

He thanked Chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society Sergey Stepashin and members of the society and other activists for their great efforts to consolidate the friendship and cooperation relations between Russia and Arab countries.

Al-Jaafair talked about Syria as the cradle of civilizations and heavenly religions and home to big legacy of churches, mosques, temples, historical monuments, shrines, palaces, old universities and heritage houses, noting the existence of many Christian sanctities in Syria that triumphed over international terrorism and over the forces that supported and funded it, including Israel.

He clarified that the first cultural contact between the Arabs and the Russians dates back to 885 AD under Caliph Al-Muqtadir, through Ibn Fadlan’s  (an Arab traveler) journey to Russia.

Participants in the ceremony talked about the importance of consolidating the role of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society with the aim of helping it increase its social and humanitarian work in support of many countries, particularly in the Middle east, and more specifically in the occupied Palestinian territories whose people are suffering from a suffocating illegal siege which has been imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities for decades in violations of all international laws, norms and human rights.

They affirmed that the Society plays a vital role in enhancing dialogue and rapprochement between religions, ethnic groups and cultures, noting that the importance of this role has increased with the growing of religious extremism and hate culture in the world.

Hamda Mustafa