Putin receives Assad and they discuss different files

Russian President Vladimir Putin received Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who arrived, on Tuesday, in Moscow on an official visit.

Putin welcomed Assad during the opening of the summit between them, and the latter said that the international changes that took place last year “required us to meet to set our visions,” stressing that this meeting “will pave the way for a new stage” in relations between the two countries.

The Syrian president also stated that the Russian army provided “great assistance to Syria” in facing the earthquake, expressing his gratitude to Russia and its people for their assistance to Syria in combating the effects of the disaster, and “for standing with us in the war on terrorism.”

Al-Assad added that although Russia is in a state of war, its “positions are fixed and unchanged,” reiterating his rejection of the Nazi-Western war.

In his statements, al-Assad affirmed the rejection of terrorism and the presence of foreign forces on Syrian soil, and said that “the world needs to rebalance, otherwise it will go to destruction and collapse.”

Likewise, al-Assad expressed his satisfaction with the work of the recent Russian-Syrian joint committee, and said: “I believe that the results they reached will pave the way for a new stage.”

In turn, the Russian President said at the opening of the Russian-Syrian summit: “We, as loyal friends, are providing support to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people as a result of the earthquake.”

Putin stated that despite the difficulties, relations between Russia and Syria have witnessed development, and have increased by 7%, as he put it.

And the Syrian presidency had stated, in a statement through its official account in the “Telegram” application, yesterday, Tuesday, that Al-Assad had arrived in Moscow to meet with Putin, in his first official visit outside the Middle East since the earthquake last month.