Mrs. Asma Al-Assad: Protecting children, particularly during wars, is at the top of priorities

First Lady, Mrs. Asama Al-Assad on Saturday received the 14-year-old Russian girl Diana Nikitia in the presence of the Russian Ambassador to Syria and the military Attaché at the Russian embassy in Damascus.

Diana is visiting Syria at the invitation of Mrs. Asma Al-Assad, carrying with her messages of love from the Russian children to the Syrian children and to the Russian soldiers who are fighting against terrorism in Syria alongside the Syrian Arab Army.

“Diana is an ambassador par excellence,” said Mrs. Asma, stressing the importance of enhancing the relation between Syrians and the Russians of different age categories, particularly children and teenagers, through mutual visits that consolidate the distinguished and deep-rooted relations between the two countries in all fields mainly in the cultural and social domains.

“Children are a permanent priority and their protection, particularly during wars, is at the top of priorities,” Mrs. Asma said.

“Today, our fight to protect principles and rights and to defend the homeland aims at ensuring safe and decent life to children,” added Mrs. Asma.

 The First Lady pointed out that “there are many children who are living in areas occupied by terrorist groups in Syria and in different parts of the world. Also, there are many children who are living in camps controlled by the terrorists and who are experiencing the ugliest forms of oppression and exploitation, which is something that we should never allow to continue”.

She affirmed that all countries should assume their responsibilities towards these children in order to save them and get them out of these camps and unsafe places.

Today, Diana visited the headquarters of the Russian forces in Syria and handed over a letter of congratulations and love to the Russian soldiers.

Diana prepared the letter in cooperation with her school mates in Moscow to convey it to the Russian servicemen working in Syria marking Russia’s Defenders of the Fatherland Day.

Hamda Mustafa