Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks in Moscow on Tuesday with his counterpart Faisal Mekdad. The last time the Syrian foreign minister visited the Russian capital was in February this year.
According to the Russian ministry's statement on the eve of the talks, the ministers will discuss in detail current issues of the international and regional agenda, including in the context of the crisis in Ukraine provoked by the "collective West." "The ministers will pay special attention to the development of the situation in and around Syria, with a focus on the prospects for promoting a comprehensive settlement in this country," the ministry added.
The Russian foreign ministry also stressed that the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries will become an important part of the trust-based bilateral political dialogue.
Political dialogue on a new platform
The sides are expected to discuss the work of the Astana format, including the results of the July 19 trilateral Russia-Iran-Turkey summit in Tehran, as well as the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee (SCC). The work of the committee is currently on pause because the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, announced earlier the postponement of the SCC session scheduled for July 25-29 because of the refusal of the governmental delegation to participate in the ninth round in Geneva.
The Russian President's Special Representative for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, earlier reported that Switzerland had lost its neutral status after joining the anti-Russian sanctions, and Geneva was no longer suitable for the SCC meetings. He also noted that Russia will not be able to host the SCC meetings instead of Geneva, but there are many options for changing the venue. However, Lavrentiev explained that the issue of moving the committee from Geneva "first of all depends on the agreement of the Syrian governmental delegation and the Syrian opposition."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said, following the summit in Tehran, that Russia, together with Iran and Turkey, and in coordination with the special envoy of the UN secretary-general for Syria, is ready "to continue helping the stable and uninterrupted functioning of the committee in every possible way."
The situation "on the ground"
A possible Turkish cross-border operation in northern Syria is also likely to be the focus of ministerial attention. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has previously stated that the main goal of the planned action is to expand the 30-kilometer security zone created in October 2019 after Operation Peace Spring.
According to Turkish media reports, the new operation is expected to involve 50,000 Turkish troops and 5,000 fighters of the Ankara-controlled so-called Syrian Free Army. As noted, the fighting will allow Turkey to ensure control over a 600-kilometer stretch of the border with a neighboring country. Ankara attributes the operation to threats from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its offshoot, the Syrian People's Self-Defense Forces.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said, when asked if Russia was concerned about a possible Ankara operation in northern Syria, that Turkey had legitimate security concerns, which of course Russia takes into account. Peskov added that "it is very important not to allow any actions that may lead to destabilization of the situation in Syria, or that may threaten its territorial and political integrity."
Lavrov and Mekdad will also focus on the humanitarian situation in the Arab republic, the tasks of its post-conflict reconstruction, as well as facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their places of permanent residence. According to the Ministry, it is important in this context to ensure the full implementation of the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2642, adopted in July this year, which provides, in addition to extending the cross-border regime of humanitarian supplies to Syria by six months, to support projects for the early restoration of basic infrastructure in the Arab Republic.
Ukraine and food security
During the exchange of views on Ukrainian issues, Lavrov is expected to brief his Syrian counterpart in detail on the progress of Russia's military operation in Ukraine. Damascus has previously repeatedly expressed full support for Moscow's decision to launch the special operation. In addition, Syria announced in June that it recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the sides are currently working on details of opening diplomatic representations in the republics. Moscow, as the Russian MFA pointed out, appreciates Syria's principled position on this issue.
In addition, the crisis in Ukraine provoked by the "collective West" and its sanctions policy have affected the already tense economic situation in Syria. However, as Riyad Haddad, Syria's Ambassador to Moscow, told TASS earlier in an interview, Russia was able to fend off disruptions in Russian exports to Syria, so food supplies, including wheat, from Russia to Syria "continue and will be carried out regularly in accordance with agreements between the two countries."
Bilateral track
Lavrov and Mekdad are also expected to discuss the state and prospects of Russian-Syrian ties and the tasks of further strengthening practical cooperation in various fields. The Russian-Syrian commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation plays a key role in this. The last meeting of its co-chairmen was held in May this year in Moscow. Russia and Syria are reportedly preparing a solid package of documents to be signed at its next meeting.
Syria is also interested in the introduction of the Russian Mir payment system. As the Arab republic's ambassador to Moscow noted, "there is a growing need to spread alternative Western systems to many countries around the world that are subject to Western pressure and sanctions."
A significant component of Russian-Syrian relations has traditionally been contacts in the cultural, humanitarian and scientific-educational spheres. There is a growing interest in the Russian language in Syria, and in this regard the countries are working to promote it. The admission of Syrians to Russian universities is being supported.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS