Russian, Brazilian Presidents Urge Finding Political Solution that Preserves Syria’s Territorial Integrity

MOSCOW, (ST)- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Brazilian counterpart Michel Temer have called for finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria as soon as possible based on preserving Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a joint statement issued following their talks in Moscow on Wednesday, the two presidents affirmed the need to solve the crisis in Syria politically on the basis of the Security Council Resolution No. 2254, issued in December, 2015 and on the basis of a political process managed by the Syrians themselves in a way that preserves Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.

 According to the joint statement, the two presidents assert their support for the ongoing UN-supervised talks in Geneva and welcome the agreement reached in Astana on May 4, 2017 on the establishment of the de-escalation zones in Syria.

Elsewhere in their joint statements, the two leaders affirmed that “the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegitimate and are considered, according to the international law principles, as an obstacle hindering the solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the establishment of a just lasting peace.”

In a joint press conference, President Putin announced Russia’s intention to enhance coordination with Brazil in the confrontation of current dangers and in fighting terrorism and maintaining world peace and security.

 Putin said that he and the Brazilian president signed a joint statement on strategic foreign policy dialogue.

“Russia and Brazil will make efforts to build a more fair, democratic and multipolar system of international relations based on the central role of the United Nations, the supremacy of international law and the joint activities of global community members,” the statement reads, according to Tass news agency.

Russia and Brazil also pointed to the “importance of resolving differences peacefully, through political and diplomatic means.” The two presidents said that “respect for the principles of goodwill, sovereign equality of states, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states and cooperation cannot go hand in hand with the unilateral use of restricting measures and economic sanctions not based on international law.”

Hamda Mustafa