Russia is engaging with Syria's new leadership to address the safety of its citizens and the functioning of its embassy in Damascus. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted Moscow's readiness to discuss broader issues of bilateral relations and regional matters during an interview with Russian and international media outlets.
"We have not withdrawn our diplomats from Damascus, and our embassy continues to operate, as do many other embassies," Lavrov stated. "We maintain contact with the new Syrian authorities through our diplomatic mission, focusing primarily on practical issues related to the safety of Russian citizens and the secure functioning of our embassy. Beyond this, we are open to dialogue on other aspects of our bilateral relations and regional agendas."
Strategic Relations with Syria
Lavrov emphasized that Russia's ties with Syria are longstanding and strategic. "As President [Vladimir] Putin has underscored, we are open to engaging with all active social and political forces in Syria. In fact, we have maintained contacts with most of them even before recent events," he noted. Lavrov referenced recent remarks by Syria's transitional leader, Ahmed Sharaa, who described the relationship between the two countries as historic and strategic—a sentiment shared by Moscow.
Shared History and Future Cooperation
Lavrov recalled Russia's significant contributions to Syria's liberation from colonial dependency and its role in training Syrian professionals. "Tens of thousands of Syrians have received education in Russia," he added.
Looking ahead, Lavrov expressed optimism about resuming economic and investment collaboration. "We hope to build on our past achievements in these areas once the new governance structure stabilizes," he said. "Of course, this is a complex process—a transitional period aimed at preparing for elections."
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Photo: Federation Council
Based on TASS materials