Syria’s interim president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, travelled to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, the first face-to-face contact the pair have had.
The meeting was particularly notable contemplating Putin’s long-standing backing of Al-Sharaa’s predecessor, Bashar al-Assad, whose dictatorial regime was ousted by insurgent forces in December.
After the toppling of the Assad dynasty, the previous Syrian chief fled to Russia, the place he and his household have been granted asylum for “humanitarian reasons,” an official supply in Russia advised NCS on the time.
However, throughout his meeting with Al-Sharaa on Wednesday, Putin insisted that the 2 nations “have been exceptionally friendly” for greater than 80 years, and that his nation’s relationship with Syria has “never been tied to our political circumstances.”
“Throughout these decades, we have always been guided by one thing: the interests of the Syrian people,” he continued.
The Russian chief referred to as the overthrowing of the Assad regime a “great success and a step toward societal consolidation” and mentioned that Syria’s most recent parliamentary elections “will strengthen cooperation between all political forces” in the nation, regardless of the “difficult times” it’s dealing with.
Earlier this yr, a whole lot of individuals have been killed in days of violence in southern Syria, which started with clashes between members of the Druze minority group and Bedouin tribes and subsequently drew a army intervention.
Israel additionally waded into the battle, saying it needed to protected the Druze and placing a number of authorities buildings in Damascus earlier than a ceasefire was agreed upon.
Al-Sharaa mentioned Wednesday that his nation was “re-establishing relations with all regional and global countries, and there are bilateral relations and common interests that connect us with Russia.”
“We have close relations with Russia, and a large part of the energy sector in Syria depends on Russian expertise,” he mentioned.
Russia’s deputy prime minister, Alexander Novak, mentioned later Wednesday that his nation was able to help Syria in its reconstruction after years of civil warfare.
“Today, we discussed specific projects in energy, transport, tourism, healthcare, and cultural and humanitarian areas,” Novak advised reporters.
“All of this will be discussed in detail, and we are ready to provide support and participate in the reconstruction of Syria,” he mentioned.