Moscow helped maintain Bashar al-Assad in energy when it intervened militarily in Syria’s conflict in 2015, launching devastating strikes on rebel-held areas.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has spoken to Syria’s interim chief Ahmad al-Sharaa, the primary such top-level contact for the reason that fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Rebels led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group ousted Moscow’s shut ally in December after a lightning offensive, and questions have remained over the destiny of Russia’s two navy bases within the war-torn nation.
In the course of the cellphone name on Wednesday, al-Sharaa emphasised “the robust strategic ties between the 2 international locations and Syria’s openness to all events” in a method that serves “the pursuits of the Syrian folks and strengthens Syria’s stability and safety”, an announcement by the Syrian presidency stated.
It additionally stated Putin prolonged “an official invitation to International Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to go to Russia”.
“The Russian facet emphasised its principled place in assist of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state,” the Kremlin stated in an announcement.
Moscow helped maintain al-Assad in energy when it intervened militarily in Syria’s conflict in 2015, launching devastating air strikes on rebel-held areas.
When rebels swept into Damascus in December, Russia granted the previous president asylum, angering many Syrians, together with the nation’s new rulers.
Russia is in search of to safe its naval base in Tartus and its airbase at Khmeimim – each on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and Moscow’s solely navy bases exterior the previous Soviet Union – with the brand new Syrian authorities.
Final month, there have been experiences that Syria had demanded the return of al-Assad in change for permitting Moscow to take care of its navy bases.
The bases have confirmed very important to Russia’s worldwide ambitions, serving as a launchpad for operations in assist of al-Assad in addition to staging grounds for Moscow to venture affect throughout the Mediterranean area and Africa.
Preparatory committee shaped
In the meantime, Syria’s interim authorities introduced a seven-member preparatory committee to form the nation’s future.
Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid. reporting from Damascus. stated the committee includes members of the ruling coalition, members of civil society and two ladies, certainly one of whom is a Christian.
Calls for of variety and inclusivity from the worldwide group and the Syrian folks appear to have been taken on board, Javaid stated.
“Though this can be a good distance away from nationwide dialogue the place we’re listening to that greater than 1,000 Syrians from all walks of life are anticipated to participate and attempt to chart out a future technique for Syria,” Javaid stated.
“However that is going to be a primary step, which is already being welcomed by some analysts who see this as a constructive step to bringing all Syrians to the desk in assuring them that this authorities beneath al-Sharaa means what it says.”
