President al-Assad to Lavrentiev: Syria is open to all initiatives on Syrian-Turkish relations

Damascus, SANA- President Bashar Al-Assad received Wednesday Russian President’s special envoy Alexander Lavrentiev. 

During the meeting, President al-Assad affirmed that Syria is open to all initiatives regarding Syrian-Turkish relations as long as they are based on respect for the sovereignty of the Syrian State over all its territory and the fight against all forms of terrorism and its organizations. 

Al-Assad stressed that such initiatives reflect the will of their sponsors and their interest in achieving stability in Syria and the entire region. 

President al-Assad pointed out that Damascus has always approached all relevant initiatives in a positive and constructive manner, and that the success of any initiative depends on respect for sovereignty. 

In another context, al-Assad praised the peace initiative between Russia and Ukraine recently proposed by President Vladimir Putin, and considered that it constitutes a true basis for a peace agreement between the two countries. 

President al-Assad added that the fact of denying this initiative by the West and Ukraine means that they assume absolute responsibility for the blood spilled. 

For his part, Lavrentiev reiterated his country’s support for all initiatives that seek to normalize relations between Syria and Turkey. 

He added that conditions currently seem more conducive than ever for the success of mediations, and reaffirmed Moscow’s willingness to work to advance negotiations, and that the main objective is to normalize relations between both countries.