Latest news with #AsaadAlShaibani
Bloomberg
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Russia Is Committed to Supporting Syria's Rebuilding, Putin Says
Vladimir Putin said Russia was committed to supporting Syria's reconstruction during a meeting with that country's foreign minister in Moscow on Thursday, as both nations seek a way forward after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, a crucial ally of the Russian president. The encounter between Putin and Asaad Al-Shaibani marked the beginning of a new era of political and military understanding between Damascus and Moscow, the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement cited by state-run news agency Sana.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Russia, Syria to bolster ties, review Assad-era agreements
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, left, attend a joint news conference following their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Shamil Zhumatov/ Pool Photo via AP) Russia and Syria signalled Thursday they would bolster ties and review agreements made under the previous pro-Moscow government of Bashar al-Assad amid uncertainty over the future of two Russian military bases in the country. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani appealed for Russia's support at talks in Moscow, where Assad had reportedly fled after he was ousted after a lightning offensive by rebels last year. It was the first time a high-ranking Syrian official visited Russia, formerly Assad's biggest backer, since he was overthrown. 'Of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side,' Shaibani told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, but said there were factors complicating relations. Russia's naval base in Tartus and its air base at Hmeimim -- both on Syria's Mediterranean coast - are Moscow's only official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. Moscow had used the bases extensively during its intervention in the civil war on Assad's side in 2015, with heavy air bombardments of rebel-held areas. It was unclear whether the new Islamist government will allow Moscow to keep its outposts in the country. Lavrov said Moscow was ready to help Syria rebuild after more than a decade of devastating conflict and to review 'agreements and contracts concluded under different conditions.' This was echoed by his Syrian counterpart, who said a review of the agreements was needed to understand whether they were 'serving the needs of the Syrian people.' Neither of the ministers mentioned whether the military bases lease, which lasts till 2066, was under discussion. Syria needs 'friends and partners' on its transition path, al-Shaibani told a press conference after the talks. Lavrov said Russia's historic support for Syria 'doesn't depend on the political situation or changes of government.'
France 24
17 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Russia, Syria to deepen ties, review longstanding Assad-era agreements
Russia 's top diplomat met with his Syrian counterpart in Moscow on Thursday, marking the first official visit by a member of Syria 's new government since former president Bashar al-Assad was ousted in a rebel offensive last year, despite long-standing support from Moscow. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani appealed for Russia's support at talks in Moscow, where Assad had reportedly fled after he was ousted after a lightning offensive by rebels last year. It was the first time a high-ranking Syrian official visited Russia, formerly Assad's biggest backer, since he was overthrown. "Of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side," Shaibani told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, but said there were factors complicating relations. Russia's naval base in Tartus and its air base at Hmeimim – both on Syria's Mediterranean coast – are Moscow's only official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. Moscow had used the bases extensively during its intervention in the civil war on Assad's side in 2015, with heavy air bombardments of rebel-held areas. It was unclear whether the new Islamist government will allow Moscow to keep its outposts in the country. Lavrov said Moscow was ready to help Syria rebuild after more than a decade of devastating conflict and to review "agreements and contracts concluded under different conditions". This was echoed by his Syrian counterpart, who said a review of the agreements was needed to understand whether they were "serving the needs of the Syrian people". Neither of the ministers mentioned whether the military bases lease, which lasts till 2066, was under discussion. Syria needs "friends and partners" on its transition path, al-Shaibani told a press conference after the talks. Lavrov said Russia's historic support for Syria "doesn't depend on the political situation or changes of government".
Al Arabiya
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syria's top diplomat expected to meet Russia's Putin: Sources
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, according to Al Arabiya sources. Al-Shaibani is on an official visit to Moscow, the first by the new government following the toppling of longtime Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in December. Al-Shaibani earlier on Thursday met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov said Moscow hoped that Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa would attend a summit between Russia and Arab League member states in Moscow in October.
Al Jazeera
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Syria wants Russia ‘by our side' in new government's first Moscow visit
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has said his country wants Russia 'by our side', marking the first formal visit to Moscow by an official of the new government in Damascus since Syria's previous Russian-backed government was overthrown last year. 'The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path,' al-Shaibani told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday during his visit to Moscow, according to a Russian translation of his comments. 'But, of course, there are a number of factors that determine and complicate these relations on the ground,' al-Shaibani said, adding that the relations should be based on 'mutual respect'. Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a key Russian ally in the Middle East, fled to Moscow last year after being ousted in a lightning rebel offensive that ended five decades of the al-Assad family's rule. After settling in Russia, al-Assad later claimed in a statement posted on Facebook that he wanted to stay in the country and continue fighting, but that the Russians had pulled him out of the country. Despite having been on opposite sides of the battle lines during the civil war – Russia took part in air attacks against the Syrian opposition and used its military might to prevent the regime's collapse in the early years of the war – the new rulers in Damascus, headed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow. A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January, and the following month, Russia's President Vladimir Putin had a call with al-Sharaa that the Kremlin described as 'constructive and business-like'. Some Russian forces have remained at Russia's bases on the Syrian coast, and Russia has reportedly sent oil shipments to Syria. Russia to support Syria's reconstruction efforts Al-Sharaa thanked Russia for its 'strong position in rejecting Israeli strikes and repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty' after Israel intervened in clashes between Syrian government forces, Bedouin forces and armed groups from the Druze religious minority earlier this month that left more than 250 people dead. Speaking to reporters after the talks on Thursday, Lavrov thanked 'Syrian colleagues for the steps they're taking to ensure the safety of Russian citizens and Russian facilities' in Syria. 'We reaffirmed our support for the preservation of the unity, territorial integrity and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic and are ready to provide the Syrian people with all possible assistance in post-conflict reconstruction. We agreed that we will continue our dialogue on these issues,' Lavrov said. Without naming al-Assad, al-Shaibani called on Russia to support the country's post-Assad 'transitional justice' process and said Syria has formed a committee to review existing agreements with Russia. Russia has a naval base in Tartous and an airbase at Khmeimim, situated on Syria's Mediterranean coast – both are Moscow's only official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. It is unclear whether the new Syrian government will allow Moscow to keep its bases in the country. Lavrov said Russia was 'ready to provide the Syrian people with all possible assistance in post-conflict reconstruction' and also reiterated Russia's invitation to al-Sharaa to join the first Russia-Arab League summit scheduled for October 15.
