Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Moscow, SANA- Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad al-Shaibani and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, affirmed the depth of the historical relations between Syria and Russia, emphasized the need to enhance cooperation based on mutual respect, strengthen partnership and reject any foreign interference.
At a joint press conference, al-Shaibani said: “Our meeting today comes at a crucial and historic turning point in Syrian-Russian relations. It is an important meeting to initiate a necessary and thoughtful dialogue based on past experiences to shape the relationship of the present and establish clear political boundaries for the future.”
He noted that “since the liberation, Syria has opened its doors to the world out of complete faith in the strength of our country, which stems from the steadfastness of our people, our supreme interests, and our absolute right to self-determination.”
Minister Al-Shaibani expressed Syria’s aspiration for full and sincere Russian cooperation in supporting the transitional justice process in Syria, which would serve as a cornerstone in building a state of law, ensure non-recurrence of violations, and restore dignity to victims.
“We do not turn a blind eye to the fact that a large portion of the Syrian people still bear deep wounds from a previous era. These wounds must be acknowledged responsibly and transparently. A sincere partnership requires courage and wisdom in facing difficulties, and engaging in accountability processes contributes to calm and comprehensive national reconciliation” the minister added.
Al-Shaibani noted that “The full, absolute, and legal sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic has been recognized, appreciated, and committed to by the Russian Federation, and was present today in our meetings with complete transparency” adding that there is a “shared desire between the two countries to open a new page of genuine cooperation based on full respect for the sovereignty of states and the independence of their national decisions”.
The Minister emphasized that Syria cannot confidently move toward reconstruction and stability in light of the repeated Israeli attacks targeting its territory and capabilities under false pretexts, which have become exposed to the entire world.
“These attacks not only represent a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, but also disrupt the process of reconstruction, exacerbate the suffering of civilians, and fuel cycles of violence and instability” Al-Shaibani said, adding “We have received a commitment from Russia to reject these attacks and stand with Syria to prevent these violations.”
Minister Al-Shaibani explained that Syria is regaining its place and status on the international stage not by siding with a particular axis, but rather through diverse sovereign partnerships that serve the Syrian people.
He noted that Russia can contribute constructively to Syria’s recovery process and it is demonstrating its shared commitment to international law, regional stability, and the long-term interests of the Syrian people.
Al-Shaibani said, “Cooperation between our two countries is not based on past inheritance, but rather on mutual respect, full sovereignty, and shared responsibility. We assure our Russian counterparts that we consider this dialogue a strategic step toward formulating new conditions that preserve Syria’s sovereignty, build its institutions, and guarantee a future protected by its people”.
“Today, as Syria emerges from a long tunnel of adversities, it extends its hand to the world to affirm that a new page has begun, one marked by cooperation, respect, and indivisible sovereignty”, The minister said.
Al-Shaibani concluded by saying, “We are building a new Syria that remembers its martyrs and preserves their blood. A Syria inspired by its people and children, who deserve a bright future and a dignified life after long decades of darkness.”
In response to journalists’ questions, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed that the Syrian state bears responsibility for protecting all its citizens across Syria and pointed out that the events in Sweida were being exploited to interfere in internal affairs, particularly by Israel and its affiliated armed groups.
He added that “Over the past two weeks, Syrian forces have been subjected to systematic Israeli shelling in Sweida, forcing them to withdraw. This led to clashes between Bedouins and armed groups in Sweida.”
He emphasized that the solution requires the Syrian state to protect the area, assume its role in protecting civilians, and restrict weapons to official agencies, saying that any foreign interference would result in chaos.
Al-Shaibani added “Our conditions with Israel are not to interfere in our internal affairs or use of the minorities card” stressing that the Syrian people have lived in internal peace for centuries, and the Syrian state today is responsible for all Syrians and “exploiting this card will lead to chaos.”
The Minister added that Syria is “counting on the awareness of the Syrian people and the wisdom of the Syrian state. Since December 8, the state has committed to dialogue as a fundamental principle for reuniting Syria and rebuilding trust among Syrians” noting that the current government includes all political factions, and the soon-to-be-formed Syrian parliament will represent all Syrians.
Minister Al-Shaibani emphasized that the Syrian state has given clear directives not to harm any civilian and to protect all its citizens. He also emphasized that the state is committed to holding accountable perpetrators of violations in Sweida, regardless of their affiliation.
He pointed out that what complicates the situation is the ongoing Israeli interference and clarified that “Syria wants to rebuild itself. We are tired of war that has lasted 14 years, and we want to reunite Syrians at home and abroad”.
“This requires a stable environment and a lot of friends, However, there are parties that do not want Syria to be safe and stable, we reject this completely”, he concluded.
In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed his country’s support for preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, expressing Moscow’s readiness to provide all possible support for its economic recovery.
“We have always been against the use of Syrian territory as an arena for geopolitical conflicts to settle scores between various countries. For this reason, we have consistently called on members of the international community to avoid steps that lead to escalation and to support international efforts to calm down the situation in Syria”, Lavrov said.
The Russian diplomat noted that there is a shared interest in ensuring that Russian-Syrian dialogue continues at all levels and that work proceeds in a constructive manner. “We exchange views on Syrian-Russian relations and current regional and international issues, as Syria, for us, is a good friend globally and regionally, and cooperation with it is important to strengthen ties and mutual benefit between the two peoples,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov explained that this position is not subject to geopolitical circumstances and is based on the traditions of friendship, mutual respect, and historical relations between the two countries.
He said, “Today, we mentioned the experiences and role of the Soviet Union in building and strengthening the Syrian economy and enhancing national competencies and cadres, in addition to the tens of thousands of Syrians who received higher education in the Soviet Union and Russia. Currently, approximately four thousand Syrian students are studying in Russian institutes and universities.”
The Russian Foreign Minister noted that Moscow will continue to develop its bilateral relations with Damascus on the basis of respect, mutual benefit, and the experience accumulated over the past decades.
He also noted the intensification of dialogue between the relevant ministries and bodies and between the two foreign ministries, in addition to discussing the work of the diplomatic missions in Moscow and Damascus.
Lavrov pointed to the challenges facing Syria and emphasized that the path to a sustainable settlement lies through reaching a comprehensive national accord through broad-based dialogue among all components of the Syrian people.
He praised the steps taken by the Syrian state to build government institutions and hold People’s Assembly elections according to a schedule.
The Russian Minister said, “We discussed the events on the Syrian coast and the worsening situation in Sweida. Therefore, we express our support for the International Red Cross initiative regarding the city of Sweida, in agreement with the Syrian government and we agreed to provide assistance to help Syria overcome these challenges”.
Lavrov expressed his gratitude to the Syrian state for the steps it has taken to provide security and protection for Russian diplomats and citizens.
Adnan/Abdul
