Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Damascus, SANA – Marking Russia Day, the Russian Federation’s national day, the Russian Embassy in Damascus held a reception on Sunday evening at Dama Rose Hotel.
In a speech at the event, Russian Ambassador Alexander Kinshchak said that since the crisis began in Syria, Russia has been exerting intensive efforts towards a political settlement as a true friend of Syria would, stressing that Russia never counted on any alternative to the political solution for the crisis, and that the sending of Russian forces to Syria is a calculated step seeking to encourage all sides to adopt the peaceful option.
He also said that Russia’s contributions to resolving the crisis aren’t limited to combating terrorism and supporting the political process; rather it also provides economic and humanitarian support for the Syrian people.
Kinshchak stressed that supporting Syria in its battle against terrorism is a strategic step, voicing optimism regarding the future of Syria and its people.
In a statement to journalists, Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban said that despite Russia’s calls for international solidarity against terrorism, the West continues to reject such cooperation, but this cooperation will happen in the future because terrorism knows no boundaries and the whole world must band together to fight it.
She said that the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin are an example of honesty in fighting terrorism.
For his part, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad told SANA that Russia Day is a good occasion for renewing the alliance between Syria and Russia whose strong relations reached unprecedented levels in economic, military, cultural, and cooperation fields.
He said that talks continue between the two countries to strengthen Syria and Russia’s regional and international role and bolster their joint war on terrorism, asserting that Syria and Russia stand as one against all forms of hegemony and bullying, hence their joint position against Turkish fascism and against all the states that support terrorism.
In addition to Shaaban and Mikdad, the reception was attended by Vice President Najah al-Attar, Speaker of the People’s Assembly Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas, senior members of al-Baath Party Hilal al-Hilal amd Yousef Ahmad, Petroleum Minister Sleiman al-Abbas, Finance Minister Ismail Ismail, Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Humam al-Jazaeri, National Reconciliation Affairs State Minister Ali Haidar, Central Bank Governor Adib Mayyaleh, and Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East Ignatius Aphrem II.
The reception was also attended by the Governor of Damascus Countryside, several People’s Assembly members, heads of media establishments, ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions, heads of unions and popular organizations, representatives of political parties, and a number of economic, religious, scientific, cultural, and social figures, among other invitees.
Hazem Sabbagh
