Today in Damascus, Syrian President Bashar Assad met with a delegation of Russian parliamentarians.
"The meeting with Bashar Assad has just ended," RIA Novosti quoted one of its participants, the State Duma deputy Alexander Yushchenko as saying.
"(Assad) praised the role of Russia, including individual parliamentarians. He expressed deep gratitude to our colleagues in the parliament, the leaders of parliament, heads of parties, and all those who support Syria," he added.