President al-Assad says Syria positively deals with Russia’s effort to resolve crisis

DAMASCUS,(ST)_President Bashar al-Assad has said Syria positively deals with Russia’s efforts to reach a solution to the ongoing crisis in the country.

The president’s remark came during his meeting today with the Russian President’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

According to the official news agency (SANA), Bogdanov conveyed an oral message to President al-Assad from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on bilateral ties, cooperation between the two friendly countries and continuity of Russia’s support for Syrian people in confronting the terrorist attack on it.

The Russian envoy briefed President al-Assad on the outcomes of meetings recently held within the framework of efforts being exerted by Russia to create a suitable environment to stop terrorism in Syria and to hold a comprehensive inter-Syrian dialogue far away from any foreign intervention.

He asserted Moscow’ support for the Syrian government’s efforts to consolidate the national reconciliation as a first step towards reaching a solution to the crisis in Syria.

President al-Assad stressed that Russia has stood by the Syrian people and has proved that it supports the peoples’ right of self- determination and respects states’ sovereignty and International laws.

“Syria is confident that any Russian diplomatic action will be based on these principles, hence it positively deals with efforts being exerted by Russia to reach a solution to the crisis,” the President said.

Dissuasive measures

The two sides agreed that the success of any effort to resolve the crisis in Syria necessitates dissuasive measures by the United Nations Security Council against states that support terrorism.

They underscored the need for continuity of exchanging viewpoints and coordination between the two states to serve the interests of the two state’s people and to restore stability to Syria and all the region’s states.

Following the meeting, Bogdanov told reports: “We discussed the crisis in Syria, the political solution, and how we can carry it out as soon as possible. Our main mission is combating terrorism which poses a threat to everyone.”

The Russian envoy’s visit to Syria comes a day after his meeting with Syria’s ambassador to Moscow Riyad Haddad.

http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/world/15702-bogdanov-haddad-tackle-prospects-of-political-solution-to-crisis-in-syria

On November 26, the Russian president met the Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem in the Russian city of Sochi.

“The talks dealt with Russian-Syrian ties,” according to the Kremlin statement.

Following the meeting, al-Moallem declared that President Putin stressed Russia’s determination to cooperate with Syria and with President Bashar al-Assad in order to defeat terrorism and deepen the strategic partnership between the two states.

Basma Qaddour