Russia expects economic cooperation with new Syrian authorities

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow is interested in economic partnership with Syria's new administration.

"I hope that we will be able to resume work with the new leaders as soon as the new power structure finally settles down on issues of economic and investment cooperation, where we already have certain achievements of recent years," Lavrov said.

He noted that this process is not easy, it is a transitional period, which is a preparation for the elections.

The FM emphasized that Russia is open to contacts with forces in Damascus.

"The head of the new Syrian authorities, Ahmed Sharaa, recently spoke and called the relations between our countries longstanding and strategic. We share the same approach," Lavrov said.