President al-Assad holds talks with Russian officials in Damascus

Lavrentiev conveyed to President al-Assad the congratulations of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the success of the Syrian parliamentary elections held recently, stressing that the elections prove the Syrian people's support for their state in its efforts to
achieve stability and to improve the people 's living conditions.

The two sides affirmed that the continuity of hostile policies being practiced by some countries at the political and economic levels are behind the continuity of the existence of terrorist groups in some Syrian areas.
They agreed on going ahead with developing bilateral relations and exerting efforts to reach solutions to ease the impact of the unjust sanctions being imposed on the people of Syria.
Basma Qaddour