At the conclusion of his visit to Russia, Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam made an announcement regarding the agreement between Damascus and Moscow. Both parties recognize that the war on Iraq poses a significant threat to regional and international security and stability.
Khaddam stated that the two sides have agreed to maintain continuous collaboration and coordinate their efforts in order to peacefully resolve the Iraqi crisis within the framework of the UN Security Council. He cautioned the United States about the severe repercussions of any military intervention in Iraq, emphasizing that it would lead to the emergence of “new extremist groups” in the region, making them exceedingly difficult to control.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Iraq has adhered to Security Council Resolution 1441 and has been earnestly cooperating with weapons inspection teams. Khaddam highlighted the double standards pursued by Washington in relation to weapons of mass destruction, noting that Israel possesses various types of such weaponry.
In addition, Khaddam mentioned that the Russian side reiterated its stance on the Middle East situation, asserting that a comprehensive solution can only be achieved by addressing the Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese tracks simultaneously, while also complying with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Madrid Conference.
Expressing Syria’s intention to strengthen its military relations with Russia, Khaddam stated the desire to restore these relations to their former Soviet Union-era level, which he described as being akin to an alliance. He stated that the development of these relations would be determined by military experts from both countries. While discussions with Russian officials covered the acquisition of Russian arms deals, no contracts were signed during the visit.
Khaddam denied that the talks in Moscow touched upon potential cooperation in building a nuclear reactor in Syria. Both Russia and Damascus have expressed their intention to hold a summit in Moscow this year, although the specific date has yet to be determined. Khaddam believed that President Bashar Al-Assad’s visit to Russia would mark the beginning of a new chapter in relations between the two nations.
Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Abdel Halim Khaddam, and their discussions revolved around the Middle East situation and the developments in the Iraqi crisis.
