Syrian papers discuss importance, expectations of president's Russian visit

Syrian newspapers on 20 August comment on President Bashar al-Asad's visit to Moscow today, stressing the good relations between the two countries and their joint will to serve international peace and security.

Damascus Al-Thawrah in Arabic, a government-owned newspaper, says the talks that President Al-Asad will hold with the Russian officials today "reaffirm the strong Syrian-Russian relations and the desire to develop them in a way that serves the interest of the two friendly peoples on the one hand and achieves security and stability in the Middle East and the Caucasus on the other."

In a 300-word article by "the political editor", the paper says that President Al-Asad's visit to Russia comes at an "extremely delicate and serious juncture given the war in the Caucasus, which was ignited by known international parties to distract Russia with marginal wars, besiege it, and dwarf its role, and the events in our region, where Israel continues to deny the Arab rights and to constantly evade the requirements of the just and comprehensive peace."

The paper says Syria and Russia stress the need to achieve peace in the Middle East on the basis of the Madrid conference, to maintain Iraq's unity and independence, and to solve the problem of the Iranian nuclear programme peacefully. It says the two countries also reject "American interference in the affairs of the other countries, especially what is happening in Georgia and South Ossetia."

Based on this, the paper says, the Syrian-Russian summit will help use the roles of the two countries to "achieve peace, stability, and prosperity and block the road to the language of wars and threats." President Al-Asad's visit will also "give another strong impetus to a more effective Russian role and open new horizons in the future of the relations between the two friendly countries."

Damascus Tishrin in Arabic, another government-owned newspaper, says President Bashar al-Asad's visit to Russia is "part of the intensive Syrian political activity," which has already included visits to France, Iran, and Turkey.

"Syria is playing an important role on the regional and international stages in search of a lost peace, a threatened stability, and international partnerships serving humanity and its noble objectives," the paper says in a 700-word editorial by Chief Editor Isam Dari.

The paper stresses that Al-Asad's visit to Russia is of "great importance" given Russia's international weight and the "deep Syrian-Russian relations." It says Russia's weight dictates that it play a major role in "protecting world peace and security and standing in the face of war merchants and the heirs of old colonialism."

The paper says the issue of security and peace in the world in general and the Middle East and the Balkans in particular will top the agenda of the Syrian-Russian talks. It expects Al-Asad's visit to Russia to yield "positive results". It says the Syrians respect Russia and appreciate its "fair positions" towards the Arab causes.

The paper concludes by saying: "President Al-Asad visits Russia today not only as Syria's president, but also as the spokesman for all the Arabs, as Syria is the chairman of the Arab summit. He will be the sincere representative of the Arab people's sentiments, the strong defender of the just Arab rights, and a true peace advocate, as he always was and will always remain."

In a 600-word editorial by Chief Editor As'ad Abbud, Al-Thawrah says Syria sees Russia as "a big, important friendly country that is practically and scientifically able to play a prominent role in the construction and development process" in Syria.

The paper says: "In the atmosphere of the international political-diplomatic action that President Bashar al-Asad leads and the Syrian diplomacy implements on all levels, an action that witnesses openness and spreads out to all countries - Turkey, Iran, India, China, France, the EU, Venezuela, Brazil, as well as the Arab countries, where Syria is the chairman of the Arab summit - it is very natural, indeed necessary, for this political and diplomatic action to move towards the friendly Russian Federation, not as a substitute for anyone or against anyone, but because of the need for international cooperation, which is sought by every country operating within the framework of dialogue and the search for a just and comprehensive peace."

The paper says the Russian role in the Middle East peace process is not out of Syria's mind when Syria adopts peace as a strategic option. It says Syria seeks "sound and sincere relations of cooperation and exchange serving international peace and development" and "moves towards the world with the mentality of common interests, the will for dialogue, and the permanent search for what serves humanity best."

Sources: as listed