Bashar Assad commends Russia’s efforts on Syrian settlement

BEIRUT, March 22. /TASS/. Syria’s President Bashar Assad said on Sunday his country commended Russia’s efforts to settle the Syrian crisis. "The government and people of Syria feel trust to Russia’s peacekkeping efforts, despite the obstacles put on their path by some European and regional states, which continue to back terrorist organizations," Assad said at a meeting with Russia’s Ambassador at Large Azamat Kulmukhametov ahead of the second round of intra-Syrian consultations due to be held in Moscow on April 6 through 9. The Syrian president stressed the necessity to coordinate Moscow’s and Damascus’ efforts geared towards establishing an intra-Syrian dialogue. "It is necessary to coordinate the agenda of the forthcoming forum that would outline areas of work, the platform of talks and a mechanism to guarantee the implementation of the tasks," he said. At the first round of consultations on January 27-29, the majority of participants, including the governmental delegation, approved the so-called Moscow Principles that are geared to promote national accord. These principles provide for preserving Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and anti-terrorism efforts. Read more