Russia has proved to be a friend of the Syrian people

Moscow has proved to be a friend of the Syrian people by supporting Damascus during the crisis in the country, Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader Halqi told Sputnik.

“Russia has proved to be a friend of the Syrian people, and its positions have been repeatedly reaffirmed at the highest level. It is worth emphasizing that in the UN Security Council Russia used its veto power against the calls of the side supporting terrorism four times,” Halqi said.

According to Halqi, a direct confirmation of friendly Russian policy towards Syria includes hosting two rounds of intra-Syrian consultations in Moscow this year. Halqi mentioned that a third round of Moscow-based intra-Syrian negotiations between representatives of Russia, the Syrian leadership and members of the opposition was currently in the planning stage.

“We do not diminish the importance of the humanitarian assistance provided by some states and non-governmental organizations, including the European and Japanese ones. But I stress it is safe to say that Russia’s assistance is a paramount provision of assistance [to Syria] taken as a whole,” Halqi said.

Syria has been in a state of a civil war following the 2011 anti-government uprising. The country’s authorities are fighting a number of rebel groups, including Islamic State jihadist group extremists. According to the UN, the humanitarian crisis is currently the world’s most severe, with over 220,000 people killed and over 11 million displaced.

A number of Western countries have long been vocally supportive of what they call Syria’s “moderate” rebel fighters, while Russia has repeatedly stated that Assad remains the current legitimate president of the country.

The Syrian government is in talks with Russia and Belarus on new loans to boost economic development. Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader Halqi expressed hope that Russia would positively respond to the request.

The Syrian leadership is discussing the possibility of new loans from Russia and Belarus to boost economic development in the country,  added Dr. Halqi in  Sputnik interview.

“We are continuing talks with Russia and Belarus on new credit lines to help us meet the production demand and create new opportunities to boost the domestic market and the economic process [in the country],” the prime minister said.

Halqi expressed hope that Russia would positively respond to the request from the Syrian government and would support the Syrian position “to cope with the brutal attacks which include the unjust economic sanctions imposed by the West.”

The prime minister added that a new agreement between Syria and Iran in the humanitarian sphere, as well as in the oil and gas industry was also signed today.

Damascus and Moscow are also in talks on the possibility of the accession of the Arab Republic to the Eurasian Economic Union and a free customs zone, he added.

“Talks are being held with the Russian side on [Syria’s] joining the Eurasian [Economic] Union and free customs zone. We see this as a benefit and the strengthening of relations with friendly states, which would facilitate economic and trade interactions with them,” Halqi said.

Moscow and Syria have signed a number of agreements on the construction of gas processing plants, irrigation facilities and electrical substations, the prime minister said. In 2013, the two countries reached a deal on the development of Syrian coastal oil fields by Russian partners, he added.

The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is an international organization, which streamlines the movement of goods, services, capital and labor between Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The Kyrgyz government signed an accession treaty to the EEU but the move has not yet been ratified by all the current members of the union.

M. Wassouf