After concluding his visit to Moscow, Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam expressed satisfaction with the results of the talks he held with Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian officials. Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Khaddam stated that the talks covered ways to develop bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues. He noted that both sides share a “common vision” on the discussed matters, and agreed to establish a mechanism to launch cooperation in various fields, including military cooperation. The framework of this cooperation will be determined by competent experts. Khaddam also delivered a message from Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to President Putin, expressing Syria’s aspiration for broader relations with Moscow and cooperation in various fields to ensure mutual interests between the two countries. Khaddam announced that President Al-Assad will visit Moscow in the future, which will open the doors to a new phase in Russian-Syrian bilateral relations. Both sides agreed that the reasons that led to the establishment of close relations between the two countries in the past are still valid. Khaddam further mentioned that the issue of Syrian debt to Moscow is not an obstacle to the development of bilateral relations, and is on its way to being resolved
On the situation in Iraq, Khaddam stated that Damascus and Moscow are in agreement that the war against Iraq poses a major threat to regional and international security and stability, and will have serious consequences for stability in the Middle East. He called for the establishment of a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East, based on the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. He further stated that “when the Israelis are convinced of the feasibility of peace and the need to comply with the implementation of United Nations resolutions, peace will be reached in the region.”
He stressed his country’s position of rejecting individual agreements, explaining that such agreements have not led to ensuring stability in the region, but on the contrary, have made the situation more complicated. Khaddam, who arrived in Moscow two days ago, met with the Russian President and held talks with the Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, and the Speaker of the State Duma, Gennady Seleznyov.
