MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Khloponin affirmed that the position of his country, president and government regarding the Syrian crisis is firm and a matter of principle, reiterating Moscow's absolute opposition to any interference in Syria's internal affairs.

These remarks came during Khloponin's meeting on Tuesday with a Syrian official delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Dr. Qadri Jamil which is currently visiting Russia.

Khloponin said that the Syrian people have a right to resolve their internal problems on their own, adding that Russia understand the complexity of the situation in Syria and that it will exert its best to help resolve the issues discussed during this meeting.

Talks focused on developing cooperation between the two countries in various fields, particularly economic, petroleum, energy, aerial and marine transport, railways, industry, agriculture, irrigation, health, high education, and scientific research, in addition to discussing means to improve trade exchange and financial and banking relations.

In a statement to SANA's correspondent in Moscow after the meeting, Dr. Jamil said that Russia's position regarding the Syrian crisis is unchanged since the first veto and up to the third veto, and that Russia's firm position expresses the true Russian interests which are compatible with Syrian interests.

He said that the meeting with Khloponin discussed various economic issues of interests to both sides and cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture and health, noting that there are many prospects for Syrian-Russian relations which can be developed rapidly in the near future.

H. Sabbagh