Syria, Russia Sign Protocol of 11th Session of the Syrian-Russian Commission’s

DAMASCUS-Syria and the Russian Federation signed the protocol of the 11th session of the Russian-Syrian Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation at the conclusion of its activities in Damascus.

According to SANA, the protocol was signed by Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem and Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yury Borisov.

The two sides signed the framework agreement to implement a roadmap for trade and industrial cooperation signed by Chairman of Planning and International Cooperation Authority Imad Sabouni and the Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Georgy Kalamanov.

 An agreement in the Housing and Public Works was signed with the initials by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Housing Mazen al-Laham and the First Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation Leonid Stavitsky.

Meanwhile, Al-Baath University and the Federal State Budget Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education (STANKIN) signed a scientific and academic cooperation agreement.

The signed agreements also included a cooperation agreement between the Syrian and Russian Businessmen Councils signed by Dr. Jamal Kanbrieh, head of the Syrian-Russian Businessmen Council and Dr. Louay Youssef, Director of the Russian-Syrian Business Council.

In a speech at the opening of the Commission’s activities, al-Moallem clarified that the meetings outlined the defining features of a roadmap for industrial and technical cooperation which will jump-start the actual partnership between the two countries.

He called for exerting joint efforts to meet the requirements of this partnership and overcome whatever obstacles in the way of implementation, hoping that the meetings will help in laying a solid ground for firmly-established and well-entrenched relations under the auspices of President Bashar al-Assad and President Vladimir Putin.

Al-Moallem said Syria welcomes the participation of Russian companies in the reconstruction process, affirming that Russia’s support for Syria in the fight against terrorism has added a new dimension to the historic friendship relations between the two countries.

Borisov, for his part, said the years of the terrorist war against Syria have resulted in major losses, which necessitates benefitting from the partnership to rebuild what terrorism has destroyed.

This, he added, constitutes a groundwork to boost Syrian-Russian economic ties, indicating that the agreements, protocol and the roadmap just serve that purpose, and pointing out that the main objective of the Commission’s work is partnership and cooperation in rebuilding economy.

Borisov affirmed that Russia will remain a reliable friend of Syria in various fields, noting that following snowballing victories over terrorism, there must be a shift to a new phase of cooperation to realize economic stability in Syria.

In similar statements, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Padalko pointed out myriad common interests binding the two countries.