Resolution in Syria needs political dialogue, all-national consensus, and reforms

Russian-Syrian talks at the top level were held in the Kremlin. Hosting President Bashar Assad, Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow provided support to the Syrian nation, which was fighting terrorism almost alone for several years, it suffered serious losses, but still there were some positive results in the struggle. “Attempts by international terrorism to control significant territories in the Middle East and destabilize the situation in the region caused serious concerns in many countries of the world. We are concerned as well, I mean Russia, that unfortunately, natives of the former Soviet republics are fighting on the territory of Syria against the government troops; there are at least 4 thousand of them. Of course we cannot let those who are militarily experienced and ideologically treated come to the territory of Russia,” Putin said.

As for a resolution in Syria, Moscow believes that on the basis of the positive dynamics in the military activities, a long-term resolution can be achieved on the basis of a political process with the participation of all the political forces, ethnicities and religious groups, and the last word belongs to the Syrian peoples. “Syria is a friendly country for us. We are ready to contribute not only during the anti-terrorist struggle, but also during the political process – of course, only within close contact with other international powers and countries of the region which are interested in a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Putin said.

Bashar Assad thanked him for the help and expressed the view that the political steps which were taken by Moscow since the beginning of the crisis prevented the worst scenario in Syria and spreading terrorism on a vaster territory. Terrorism is a real obstacle on the way to a political settlement. Of course the whole nation wants to participate in defining its country’s fate, not only the leadership wants that,” Assad explained.

There is no information on details of the talks, but Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, thinks that “the mere fact of political contacts, political dialogue at the highest level in a meeting of our presidents, once again stresses that Syria is a friendly country. We cooperate with Syria not only in terms of military and technical aid, but across the economic and political spectrum. Russia has made this decision to help the Syrian people, to help the Syrian army to cope with this terrible international evil, international terrorism, ISIS not coincidently. It has been made to create the conditions for a political, national dialogue in Syria, for a dialogue of all ethnic groups, religious groups.”

According to Matviyenko, “it is impossible to achieve peace, stability, national political dialogue in Syria without dialogue, without national consensus, without the reforms that are needed in Syria. But to ensure the political process and political reforms, first of all, the international terrorism that is a major obstacle to this political dialogue should be defeated. Therefore, our cooperation with Syria is wide-ranging. This dialogue is not closed, we will be pleased if it is joined by other concerned states, our Western partners, the countries of the region, so as to find a solution to a peaceful, political settlement of the Syrian crisis as soon as possible, because there is no place for a military solution, and what is most important, the Syrian people should decide their future by themselves.”