Putin: President al-Assad enjoys wide popular support among Syrians

ANKARA,(ST)_The Russian President Vladimir Putin has underscored that President Bashar al-Assad enjoys wide support among Syrians, adding that acceptable political solution could be reached to the crisis in Syria.

Putin’s remarks came during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Racep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Russia’s president clarified that the presidential elections held in Syria showed that President al-Assad enjoys wide support, adding that it is important to create the conditions under which all citizens of Syria will feel safe and have equal access to governance.

The RT quoted Putin as saying: “We certainly need to find an acceptable solution – first of all, acceptable for the Syrian people and all political forces in the country. And, definitely, we’re going to stay in contact with all participants in this process, including Turkey.”

We don’t want chaos to reign in Syria  

He added: “We share a common opinion that the situation in Syria can’t be considered adequate, we share a common opinion that we don’t want to allow chaos in the region and the strengthening of terrorist organizations like it happened in Iraq.” 

On November 28, Putin underscored that his country will go ahead with supporting Syria, Iraq and other states in the region in counterterrorism in accordance with principles of the states’ sovereignty and non-intervention in their internal affairs.

Five days ago, 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.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that the Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived today in Turkey accompanied by a large delegation, including 10 ministers, for discussions officials say will concentrate on trade, including a Turkish demand for a price reduction on natural gas purchases from Russia.

Basma Qaddour