Damascus reaffirms intention to cooperate with Moscow

MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax) - The new Syrian authorities are interested in building mutually respectful cooperation with Russia, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said.

"We represent a new Syria today, and certainly, we're interested in arranging correct interactions and relations between our countries based on cooperation and mutual respect," al-Shaibani said at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but this is also an opportunity for building a united and strong Syria," he said.

"And definitely, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path," he said.

"Relations between the Russian and the Syrian people have a long history, but certainly, there are a number of things that determine and complicate these relations," he said.

Lavrov said Moscow is closely following "the transition period processes continuing in Syria, and we sincerely wish the Syrian people, with whom we're bonded by years of friendship, to overcome the existing challenges and fully normalize the situation."

Russia expects Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to be able to take part in a first Russian-Arab summit set for October 15, he said.