Assad Expresses to Putin Gratitude for Russia’s 'Comprehensive' Support to Syria

Arab World

April 27th, 6:46am

Damascus, London - Asharq Al-Awsat

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad during a meeting in Sochi on November 20, 2017 (AFP)

Syrian President Bashar Assad expressed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin gratitude to Moscow’s “comprehensive support and aid” to Damascus. In a telephone call on Monday, “the Syrian President expressed his deep gratitude to Russia for the comprehensive aid and support being provided to the Syrian people,” the Kremlin said in a statement. Assad and Putin discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda, primarily the prospects for further development of trade, economic and humanitarian ties. They also tackled efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s supply of its Sputnik V vaccine to Syria. On February 22, Damascus authorized the vaccine to be used in the country. On Syria, the officials focused on promoting the intra-Syrian peace process within the Constitutional Committee, added the Kremlin. Assad also briefed Putin on the preparations for the upcoming presidential elections on May 26. The Syrian presidency said in a statement that “Assad thanked Russia for the humanitarian assistance provided to help the Syrian people overcome the impact of the unjust blockade imposed on the country.” It added that the two presidents also tackled a number of political issues, particularly the work of the Constitutional Committee and western pressure aimed at “diverting it from its track.”

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2941901/assad-expresses-putin-gratitude-russia%E2%80%99s-comprehensive-support-syria