Syria’s new rulers have determined to take a realistic strategy, regardless of Russia’s assist for earlier President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian International Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has stated his nation desires Russia “by our aspect”, marking the primary formal go to to Moscow by an official of the brand new authorities in Damascus since Syria’s earlier Russian-backed authorities was overthrown final 12 months.
“The present interval is filled with varied challenges and threats, however it’s also a possibility to construct a united and powerful Syria. And, after all, we’re considering having Russia by our aspect on this path,” al-Shaibani informed his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday throughout his go to to Moscow, in line with a Russian translation of his feedback.
“However, after all, there are a variety of things that decide and complicate these relations on the bottom,” al-Shaibani stated, including that the relations ought to be primarily based on “mutual respect”.
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key Russian ally within the Center East, fled to Moscow last year after being ousted in a lightning insurgent offensive that ended 5 a long time of the al-Assad household’s rule.
After settling in Russia, al-Assad later claimed in an announcement posted on Fb that he needed to remain within the nation and proceed combating, however that the Russians had pulled him overseas.
Regardless of having been on reverse sides of the battle strains through the civil warfare – Russia took half in air assaults in opposition to the Syrian opposition and used its army may to forestall the regime’s collapse within the early years of the warfare – the brand new rulers in Damascus, headed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, have taken a realistic strategy to relations with Moscow.
A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January, and the next month, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had a name with al-Sharaa that the Kremlin described as “constructive and business-like”. Some Russian forces have remained at Russia’s bases on the Syrian coast, and Russia has reportedly despatched oil shipments to Syria.
Russia to assist Syria’s reconstruction efforts
Al-Sharaa thanked Russia for its “robust place in rejecting Israeli strikes and repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty” after Israel intervened in clashes between Syrian government forces, Bedouin forces and armed groups from the Druze religious minority earlier this month that left greater than 250 individuals useless.
Chatting with reporters after the talks on Thursday, Lavrov thanked “Syrian colleagues for the steps they’re taking to make sure the protection of Russian residents and Russian amenities” in Syria.
“We reaffirmed our assist for the preservation of the unity, territorial integrity and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic and are prepared to offer the Syrian individuals with all attainable help in post-conflict reconstruction. We agreed that we’ll proceed our dialogue on these points,” Lavrov stated.
With out naming al-Assad, al-Shaibani referred to as on Russia to assist the nation’s post-Assad “transitional justice” course of and stated Syria has fashioned a committee to overview current agreements with Russia.
Russia has a naval base in Tartous and an airbase at Khmeimim, located on Syria’s Mediterranean coast – each are Moscow’s solely official army outposts outdoors the previous Soviet Union.
It’s unclear whether or not the brand new Syrian authorities will permit Moscow to maintain its bases within the nation.
Lavrov stated Russia was “prepared to offer the Syrian individuals with all attainable help in post-conflict reconstruction” and in addition reiterated Russia’s invitation to al-Sharaa to affix the primary Russia-Arab League summit scheduled for October 15.