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Syria’s top diplomat said Damascus wants Moscow “by our side” on the first visit to Russia by a member of the new government since former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in a rebel offensive late last year.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in the Kremlin on Thursday, according to Syrian news agency SANA, a meeting that underlined the Kremlin’s desire to establish working ties with the country’s new leadership.
Before the talks with Putin, al-Shibani met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who emphasised that the Russian authorities “sincerely wish that the Syrian people, with whom we have long-standing friendship, overcome all existing challenges and completely normalise the situation.”
“The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria,” Al-Shibani said.
Al-Assad was an ally of Russia and Moscow’s scorched-earth intervention in support of him a decade ago turned the tide of Syria’s civil war and kept al-Assad in his seat until his swift demise in December.
Russia, which has focused on the fighting in Ukraine and kept only a small military contingent in Syria, didn’t try to counter the rebel offensive but sheltered al-Assad after he fled the country.
Without naming al-Assad, al-Shibani called on Russia to support the country’s “transitional justice” process and said Syria has formed a committee to review past agreements with Russia.
Despite having been on opposite sides of the battle lines during the civil war, the new rulers in Damascus, headed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharra, have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow.
A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January and the following month Putin had a call with al-Sharaa that the Kremlin described as “constructive and business-like.”
Russia has retained presence at its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast and the Kremlin has voiced hope for negotiating a deal to keep the outposts.
Moscow also has reportedly sent oil shipments to Syria.
Syria’s Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra accompanied al-Shibani on his visit to Moscow and met his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov.
They discussed “cooperation between defence ministries and the situation in the Middle East,” the Russian Defence Ministry said.
Speaking to reporters after the talks on Thursday, Lavrov thanked “Syrian colleagues for the steps they’re taking to ensure the safety of Russian citizens and Russian facilities” in Syria.
“We reaffirmed our support for the preservation of the unity, territorial integrity and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic and are ready to provide the Syrian people with all possible assistance in post-conflict reconstruction. We agreed that we will continue our dialogue on these issues,” Lavrov said.
Al-Sharaa has thanked Russia for its “strong position in rejecting Israeli strikes and repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty” after Israel intervened in clashes between Syrian government forces and armed groups from the Druze minority earlier this month.
Al-Shibani on Thursday criticized Israel’s “interference in internal affairs” and said it complicates efforts to resolve conflicts between different communities in Syria.
Additional sources • AP
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