Damascus, SANA – Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani affirmed during a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak at Tishreen Palace in Damascus that “Israeli attacks are a direct threat to the stability of the region, and we inherited heavy dossiers from the previous regime, foremost among them chemical weapons dossiers that have tarnished Syria’s image internationally.”
Minister al-Shaibani said, “The new Syria has turned the page on evasion and denial and cooperated with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.”
He added: “Our relationship with Russia is deep and has gone through phases of friendship and cooperation, but balance was not present in it, and any foreign presence on our land must have the aim of helping the Syrian people build their future.”
Al-Shaibani indicated that Syria welcomes “cooperation with Russia in the fields of reconstruction, energy, agriculture, and health on a fair and transparent basis.”
“The more stable Syria is, the more opportunities for cooperation will open up to everyone, and the weaker it is, the greater the chances of chaos and terrorism. Explicit Russian support for Syria’s new path will be a step in the interest of our country and the entire region,” the Minister added.
He illustrated: “Damascus is looking for honest partners, and the success of these talks sends a new message that Syria and Russia are capable of building relations based on sovereignty, justice, and mutual interest.”
For his part, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak reiterated his country’s support for Syria’s unity and stability, expressing Moscow’s readiness to provide assistance in reconstruction and enhance economic cooperation by activating the work of the joint government committee, which has proven its effectiveness in the past.
Novak emphasized that Syrian-Russian relations are based on mutual respect, and that his country hopes to continue these relations for the benefit of the peoples of both countries. He also noted the importance of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s upcoming visit to Moscow to participate in the Russian-Arab summit, considering it an opportunity to develop bilateral relations and discuss issues of common interest.
Novak expressed Moscow’s concern over Israeli attacks and the occupation of some areas in southwestern Syria, as well as the waves of violence targeting some Syrian communities, stressing that these practices destabilize the country and the region.
He said that today’s meeting addressed important directions for industrial cooperation, proposing the activation of the Joint Governmental Committee for the Development of Economic Cooperation and the provision of support to the Syrian side in coordination with regional partners.
Noura / Fedaa
