Russian diplomats and analysts: President A-Assad’s visit is an important event for Russia and its friends

Moscow (ST): Russian diplomats and political analysts unanimously agreed on the importance of President Bashar Al-Assad’s visit to Russia in terms of discussing and strengthening bilateral relations in all fields, and pushing them forward, describing the visit as an important event for Russia and its friends.

Professor Andrei Baklanov, Vice-President of the Association of Russian Diplomats, explained that President Al-Assad’s visit is of great importance. It is an important event for Russia and its friends, especially in the light of the exceptional circumstances in which the West is waging a war against the Russian Federation.

In an interview with SANA news correspondent in Moscow today, Baklanov called for increasing contacts and consultations between the two friendly countries in various fields, pointing out that many of the advice, predictions and ideas provided by President Al-Assad, not only with regard to Syria but also to the world as a whole, have been fully realized, and all his predictions came true, especially with regard to the expansion of the United States and NATO countries, and their approach to Russia’s borders more and more.

Baklanov added, “President Al-Assad is among the political leaders in the world who give correct assessments and objectively anticipate developments, and confront arrogance and foreign domination.”

In turn, Dmitry Suslov, an expert at the Foreign and Defense Policies Council in Russia, stressed that President Al-Assad’s visit to Moscow has very important significance and indications within the current circumstances, pointing to the importance of Russia’ relations with Syria, including continuing joint work to combat terrorism and preserving Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Suslov told SANA  correspondent that Russia is determined to play a major role in the multipolar world, to remain among the most important players in the Middle East, and to practice an effective policy there.

He added: Moscow supports Syria’s unity and independence and will continue to support the Syrian state’s efforts in reconstruction and overcoming the repercussions of the earthquake, pointing to the occupation of the United States of America and Turkey of Syrian lands, especially the areas where the natural resources of the Syrian people exist, which constitutes a major obstacle to the stability and security of Syria and the region, stressing that his country calls for the withdrawal of the forces of all the foreign countries illegally present in Syria.

For his part, Head of the International and National Security Department at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Professor Oleg Ivanov, said that President Al-Assad’s visit to Russia is very important, given the long-standing relations between the two countries on the one hand, and because the international situation for Russia requires deepening these relations and developing them to strategic levels, on the other.

In a similar interview, the Russian professor added: The strengthening of relations with Syria is very important for Russia, particularly as Russia has been providing various forms of support to the country, including military, economic and humanitarian support, especially in the light of the current difficult circumstances following the earthquake that hit the country.

Ivanov expressed his hope that the support provided by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the relevant Russian ministries, the Russian civil society and the residents of the Russian capital “will have a positive impact in alleviating the tragedies of the earthquake disaster that befell the Syrian friends”.

Professor Ivanov said: We support Syria in its firm stance in combating international terrorism and terrorists, and in confronting the American sponsors of terrorism whose forces occupy parts of the Syrian territory in the east of the country, and we also support the Syrian territorial integrity, which must be under the sovereignty of the Syrian state and its central leadership.

Professor Ivanov reaffirmed that President Al-Assad’s visit to Russia is a continuation of the constructive approach that has been continuous for decades between the two countries and peoples.

In another interview with the reporter, the scientific researcher specializing in the history of the Middle East at the Institute of Asian and African Countries at Moscow State University, Pavel Shlykov, confirmed that President Al-Assad’s visit to Russia is of “extreme importance for the two countries because it comes in certain circumstances in which Russia stresses that the role of the countries of the Middle East in politics at the international level is very important, and that the conflict in Ukraine has not lessened the importance of this role.

The Russian researcher said: “Syria participates in strengthening this issue by consolidating relations with Russia at the highest levels, and in accordance with the decades-old  and continuous tradition between the two countries, especially in the  circumstances in which a group of unfriendly countries appeared near Russia, while Syria was distinguished in this regard by establish cooperation and partnership with Russia, despite the exceptional situation that the entire region is going through.

K.Q.