Assad supports Russian role in resolving Syrian crisis

Damascus, March 23: The administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad supports the Russian efforts on holding a second round of talks on the Syrian crisis in Moscow next month, media reports said on Sunday. Assad made the remarks during a meeting with the visiting Russian special envoy to Syria Azmatullah Kolmohammadov, the state news agency SA reported. Both sides stressed the need to continue coordition and consultation between Moscow and Damascus to make the Russian efforts a success regarding holding a second round of inter-Syrian talks in Moscow. Last January, the Russian capital hosted consultative talks between representatives of the Syrian government and opposition figures and parties with the aim to prepare for a Syrian-Syrian dialogue to solve the long-running crisis. The meetings were concluded with both parties agreeing on a set of guidelines proposed by Russia. The guidelines, which were called “Moscow principles,” mainly stressed on maintaining Syria’s sovereignty and unity, fighting terrorism, settling the crisis peacefully and politically and rejecting any foreign interference. During their meeting on Sunday, Assad and Kolmohammadov discussed the continued Russian efforts to hold a second round of talks in Moscow, reportedly slated for next month, according to Xinhua. Assad stressed that his government trusts the Russian leadership and believes in its “relentless efforts” to find a solution for Syria. (IANS)