Putin to Arab Summit in Tunis: Crisis in Syria Should be Resolved through Political, Diplomatic Means

MOSCOW, (ST)- Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the need to solve crises in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, through political and diplomatic means based on international law and on respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Russia operates on the premise that the crisis situation in the region should be settled through political and diplomatic means on the basis of international law and with scrupulous respect for countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. This applies to Syria in full, where a massive blow was delivered to terror, the political process was launched and work was started to resolve pressing humanitarian issues”, Putin said in a message addressing the Arab Summit currently being held in Tunis.

 In his message, published on the Kremlin website on Sunday, Putin pointed out that a major condition for sustainable stabilization of the situation in the region is the settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, which would include a just solution of the Palestinian cause.

He made it clear that the Arab Peace Initiative, approved by the League of Arab States, remains relevant in this regard, particularly its call for establishing a comprehensive anti-terror coalition under the auspices of the United Nations.

Putin also affirmed that Russia is ready to further boost its partner relations with the Middle East and the states of North Africa in all domains.

Guterrre: Any Resolution of Crisis in Syria Must Guarantee Country’s Unity

Opening the 30th Arab League summit in Tunisia, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterrres said  thatsny scenario for resolving the crisis in Syria should guarantee Syria’s territorial integrity.

“Any resolution of the Syrian conflict must guarantee the unity, the territorial integrity of Syria, including the occupied Golan,” he stressed, according to Itar Tass.

According to the UN chief, his new special envoy outlined the priorities for a comprehensive and credible political solution based on Security Council Resolution 2254, including the convocation of the Constitutional Committee.

Hamda Mustafa