Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for a three-day visit. During his visit, he will discuss the situation in Iraq and the Middle East with President Vladimir Putin, as reported by RIA Novosti.
Prior to his departure, Khaddam had announced that he would deliver a message from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, according to RIA Novosti. The content of the letter has not been disclosed. The meeting between Khaddam and Putin is scheduled for Wednesday.
Syrian Ambassador to Moscow, Wahib Fadel, stated that Syria, the only Arab state currently a member of the Security Council, opposes any aggression against Iraq. Fadel emphasized that this stance is shared by several countries including Russia, China, Germany, and France, as reported by Itar-Tass.
As a permanent member of the Security Council with veto power, Russia opposes any unilateral operation by the United States against Baghdad without the approval of the United Nations.
In its role as a member of the Quartet on the Middle East, which also includes the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, Russia relies on Damascus to contribute towards resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Alexander Iakovenko, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told Itar-Tass that Damascus holds significant influence in both the Arab world and the broader Islamic world.
