Putin invites al-Assad to discuss planned Syrian national dialogue congress
SOCHI. Nov 21 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss the planned Syrian National Dialogue Congress.
"I would very much like to discuss with you the main principles for organizing a political process and holding the Syrian peoples' congress, which you have backed," Putin said at a meeting with al-Assad in Sochi.
Putin recalled he and al-Assad had agreed "that we will hold additional consultations during our face-to-face meeting."
Putin said his meeting with al-Assad comes ahead of a meeting with the presidents of Turkey and Iran set for Wednesday.
"The main issue is certainly the issue of a peaceful political settlement process, a lasting settlement to the situation in Syria that will follow the destruction of terrorists," Putin said.
Putin also assured al-Assad that, apart from Turkey and Iran, Russia is "also actively working with other countries: Iraq, the U.S., Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan."
"We are constantly in touch with these partners," he said.