28 Sep 2018 20:01

Lavrov tells Muallem about Russia's firm commitment to completely eliminating terrorism hotbed in Syria - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. Sept 28 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem have discussed the development of the situation in Syria and surrounding it on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The parties had an in-depth exchange of views on the development of the situation in Syria, including the task of the political settlement in this country taking into consideration the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi and on the basis of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254," the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website.

"Lavrov confirmed the Russian side's commitment to Syria's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and firm determination to finally eliminate a hotbed of international terrorism in this country," it said.

"The ministers supported the intensification of collective efforts to facilitate the restoration of the socio-economic infrastructure, which was destroyed in hostilities, and the lifting of illegal unilateral anti-Syrian sanctions, which primarily affect civilians," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The parties also addressed the strengthening of bilateral commercial and economic ties using the potential of the intergovernmental commission for commercial and economic and scientific and technical cooperation," it said.