Russia considers contacts with new Syrian authorities important

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Kremlin views contacts between the Russian delegation and Syria’s new leadership as significant and intends to maintain dialogue, a Russian official said Wednesday.

“This is an important trip, important contacts, because it is necessary to build and maintain a constant dialogue with the Syrian authorities, which we are engaged in and will continue to engage in,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, cited by TASS.

Russian authorities will continue to establish dialogue with the new leadership of Syria, Peskov added.

“We will continue dialogue with the Syrian authorities,” Peskov added.

Earlier, Russian media outlets reported that a Russian delegation led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev arrived in Damascus, marking the first visit by Russian officials to the country since the ouster of Bashar Assad’s regime last December.

The visit came just days after the European Union linked the lifting of sanctions on Syria to the withdrawal of foreign armed forces from its territory, urging Syrian authorities to require Russia to vacate its military bases in Khmeimim and Tartus.