DAMASCUS, (ST)- President Bashar  Al-Assad, accompanied by Awqaf Minister (Religious Endowments) and a number of senior state officials, performed the prayer of Eid al-Adha at al-Afram Mosque in Damascus.

Imam of the Afram Mosque, Shiekh Hassan Awad, said in his Eid sermon that Eid al-Adha reminds us of the day when Prophet Mohammad stood at Arafat Mount to urge people to enhance good manners and adopt the values of justice, amity, tolerance, cooperation and patience, which are principles in Islam.

"Today, on the contrary, some people have deviated from the right path of true Islam and adopted extremist ideas that created terrorism and encouraged criminality," said Sheikh Awad, reiterating that those people have nothing to do with Islam, the tolerant religion that calls for peace and stability not killing and destruction.

DAMASCUS, (ST)-President Bashar Al-Assad on Saturday received congratulation cables from the First Sharia Judge Mahmoud al-Maarawi,  Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Mohammad Abdul Sattar al-Sayed, Justice Minister Hisham al-Shaar and Syria's Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun on Eid al-Adha which starts on Sunday.

Senders of the cables extended their congratulations and best wishes to President Al-Assad and expressed hope that Syria will soon triumph and heal from terrorism and that security and stability will prevail all over the country.

DAMASCUS, (ST)- President Bashar Al-Assad on Thursday congratulated the heroes of the Syrian Arab Army on the 74^th Army Day, hailing their great sacrifices in defense of the homeland against terrorism and aggression.

“Happy Army Day to you, men of dignity, sovereignty and honor. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the 74^th foundation anniversary of our heroic army. I congratulate all of you both officers and soldiers on this glorious day and I would like to express to you the gratitude and respect of our steadfast people, because you are the makers of their glory and victories and the protectors of their land and sovereignty,” President a-Assad said in a statement addressing the Syrian Arab army.

DAMASCUS, (ST)-President Bashar Al-Assad on Monday received a letter from His Holiness Pope Francis of Vatican delivered by Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The Pope stressed his support for restoring stability in Syria and for stopping the suffering of the Syrians because of the war.

Talks during the meeting focused on latest developments in Syria.

President Al-Assad talked about the crimes being committed by the terrorists, who still have positions in some areas particularly in Idleb, against Syrian civilians. He also talked about the support being provided by some regional and western states to the terrorist organizations to help them continue their crimes against the Syrians.

DAMASCUS, (ST)- President Bashar Al-Assad and his Russian Counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday exchanged congratulations on the 75^th anniversary of establishing the Syrian-Russian diplomatic ties.

In his cable of congratulation, President Al-Assad  stressed that relations between Syria and Russia are based on mutual respect and confidence and that Russia has throughout history proved that it is a great state in terms of respecting international law and peoples' will, noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries, keenness on establishing security and stability in all parts of the world, disseminating the values of amity and peace vis a vis terrorism and extremism which is backed by some countries to serve their own interests.