Dialogue seminar in Damascus on 80th anniversary of establishing Syrian-Russian diplomatic relations

Marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Syrian-Russian relations, the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Tuesday organized a dialogue seminar, entitled “Characteristics of Syrian-Russian Relations,” at the Ministry’s auditorium in Damascus.

During the seminar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Bassam Sabbagh said that relations between Syria and Russia have gone through important stages since their official establishment in 1944, most notably the support provided by the Russian Federation to Syria since 2011 until now, specifically when the Russian army assisted the Syrian Arab Army in confronting terrorism. He pointed out that joint efforts in this field resulted in restoring security and stability to cities and villages where terrorist organizations were wreaking havoc and desyroying life there.

Sabbagh added that the joint fights against terrorism was accompanied by political support, through Russia’s use of the veto in the UN Security Council several times to prevent the adoption of anti-Syria Western plans.

Sabbagh explained that mutual visits between Presidents Bashar Al-Assad and Vladimir Putin, and the agreements that were signed, contributed to upgrading the relations between the two countries to very important point at all levels.

Also, the regular meetings of the Syrian-Russian Joint Committee ensured the proper implementation of the agreements on cooperation in the economic and trade fields, and secured support for reconstructing what has been destroyed during the terrorist war on Syria, Sabbagh clarified, noting the many cultural, social and humanitarian initiatives and projects between the two sides.

“Syria and Russia are facing common and multiple challenges today, foremost of which are the unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western countries with the aim of exerting political and economic pressure on both Syrua and Russia, Sabbagh went on to say. He made it clear that the current changes in world today, and the emergence of the features of a multipolar system, which ends the dominance of unipolarity, and which is based on equality between states, respect for their sovereignty and independence, and non-interference in their internal affairs, herald a better future for and for all of humanity.

For his part, Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko said that the world today is going through a difficult period due to the attempts of the collective West, led by the United States, to obstruct the formation of a new, more stable and just world order. He pointed out that Russia and Syria today are standing on the front line of the battle for truth and justice in our world, and nothing can hinder their steadfastness.

Yakovenko appreciated Syria’s position in support of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, which aims to protect the Russian people and Russian civilization, noting that Moscow always supports Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity in the face of the attempts of the collective West to impose a geopolitical scheme that aims at dominating and destroying Syria.

Hamda Mustafa