Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview with Russian and international news media, Moscow, December 26, 2024

#Syria #MiddleEast

PART 1

❓Question: Moscow also claims to be negotiating with the new forces currently in control in Syria. What is your assessment of these talks? How do you see the future relations between Moscow and Damascus?

Sergey Lavrov: We have never recalled our diplomats from Damascus. Our Embassy continues to operate in Syria, as do many others.

We maintain communication with the new Syrian authorities through our diplomatic mission. We are discussing hands-on issues related to ensuring the safety of Russian citizens and the safe operation of our embassy. We are interested in dialogue on other aspects of our bilateral relations and the regional agenda, and are ready to talk.

As President Vladimir Putin has emphasised, we are open to contacts with all major political groups that are active in Syria. We have been maintaining these contacts for quite some time now. We were in touch with most of them even before the recent events.

I must note that the head of the new Syrian government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has recently talked to the BBC. In his interview, he described Syria’s ties with Russia as long-standing and strategic. We share that approach. We have much in common with our Syrian friends.

We have made a great contribution to liberating Syria from colonial dependence, and training local personnel. Tens of thousands of Syrians received education at Russian universities. As many as 5,000 Syrian citizens are students here now. We are ready to expand educational cooperation.

I hope that, once the new Syrian government structure stabilises, we will be able to resume economic and investment cooperation with the new leaders where we left off, as we have made certain achievements on that track in the past years.

This is not an easy process. It is a transitional period, which will be followed by elections, as was announced. Substantial preparations should be made, and a framework for the election campaign has to be agreed upon. All leading countries have emphasised the need for this process to be inclusive, meaning that all political, ethnic and religious groups in Syria have to be represented.

Again, this is not an easy process, but we are ready to help, including through the UN Security Council and the Astana format, where Russia – along with Turkiye and Iran, and with support from the majority of Arab countries – is ready to play a role in consolidating all processes in Syria and organising the elections so as to ensure that the results are recognised by all and are beyond dispute.

We have discussed this with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain and Lebanon. Each of these countries has reaffirmed its interest in preventing Syria from repeating the path of the Libyan state after NATO destroyed it – that country still needs to be put back together piece by piece. This has not been very successful so far.

It is important what role Syria’s neighbours will play. We have heard Turkish President Erdogan’s statement. We understand the legitimate concerns of the Turkish leadership and people about security along the border with Syria, where they have seen repeated incidents involving terrorist groups that are causing unrest there.

These legitimate security concerns must be addressed while preserving Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity. Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed the same approach. We support that.

PART 2

Sergey Lavrov: It is important to address the problems in eastern Syria, where the Americans have illegally occupied a significant part of the territory that holds major oil fields and the most fertile soil. They are extracting and exporting the country’s resources, directing the proceeds to support US-created separatist groups in eastern Syria. This must certainly be addressed. Syria must not be allowed to fall apart, even though some would like just that.

It is important that Israel understand its responsibility for the collective effort and refrain from ensuring its own security at the expense of others. This principle, the indivisibility of security, was enunciated a long time ago. One cannot expect to destroy all military facilities in a neighbouring country and then live in peace and harmony until the end of time. This is like “sowing the wind” that will come back to those who do this in a storm of consequences.

☦️ Литургия для русской православной общины (8 января 2025 г.)

По случаю Рождества Христова Настоятель храма святого апостола Филиппа в ОАЭ архимандрит Александр (Заркешев) отслужил праздничную литургию для русской православной общины в столице Королевства Бахрейн - городе Манаме.

☦️ القداس للطائفة الأرثوذكسية الروسية (8 يناير 2025)

بمناسبة عيد الميلاد المجيد، أقام عميد كنيسة القديس فيليبس في إمارة الشارقة بدولة الإمارات الأرشمندريت ألكسندر (زاركيشيف) قداساً للطائفة الأرثوذكسية الروسية في المنامة عاصمة مملكة البحرين.
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☦️ Liturgy for the Russian Orthodox community (January 8, 2025)

The rector of the Church of St. Philip the Apostle in the UAE, Archimandrite Alexander (Zarkeshev), served a Christmas liturgy for the Russian Orthodox community in Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

🇷🇺🇧🇭 Встреча Председателя Правительства Республики Саха (Якутия) К.Е.Бычкова и Посла России в Манаме А.В.Скосырева с Наследным принцем, Премьер-министром Бахрейна Сальманом Бен Хамадом Аль Халифой.

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🇷🇺🇧🇭 The meeting between the Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) H.E. Kirill Bychkov and the Russian Ambassador H.E. Dr. Alexey Skosyrev with His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of The Kingdom of Bahrain.

🎉🤝 12 января Посол России в Бахрейне А.В.Скосырев и его супруга Т.Н.Скосырева вручили О.В.Ауст благодарность за активное участие в деле продвижения российской культуры и позитивного образа Российской Федерации в Королевстве Бахрейн. Ольга Вячеславовна является педагогом, директором музыкальной школы «Life in music», главой детского литературного клуба «Два капитана», а также совместно с И.Ю.Ивановой-Де Бур руководит деятельностью детского любительского театра «Кошкин дом».
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🎉🇷🇺 On January 18, the Russian Ambassador Dr. Alexey Skosyrev and his spouse Mrs. Tatiana Skosyreva presented Mrs. Olga Aust the letter of gratitude for active participation in the promotion of Russian culture and positive image of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Mrs.Olga Aust is an educator, director of the music school «Life in music» and the head of the children's literary club «Two Captains». Together with Mrs. Irina Ivanova – De Bur she runs the amateur theater «Koshkin Dom».

🇷🇺🇧🇭 January 12-15, 2025, delegation consisting of the First Deputy Chairperson of Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs, the Chairperson of the Eurasian Women's Forum Mrs. Galina Karelova, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Mrs. Ekaterina Priezzheva, the First Deputy Director for Development of the Roscongress Foundation, Director of the RK-Medicine Foundation Mrs. Anastasia Stolkova took part in Global Women Economic Forum and Exhibition held in Manama, the capital city of Bahrain. The busy program of their contacts included meetings with the heads of the two chambers of the Bahraini Parliament, the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Supreme Council for Health, the regional office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization as well as with women leaders in various fields.

Following the visit, the main areas of further cooperation and practical steps for the implementation of promising joint projects were outlined.

Валерий Гергиев и Мариинский театр выступят в Бахрейне


27 января в Национальном театре Бахрейна состоится выступление Симфонического оркестра Мариинского театра под руководством Валерия Гергиева. Будут исполнены арии из опер «Царская невеста» Римского-Корсакова, «Пиковая дама» Чайковского, «Адриана Лекуврёр» Чилеа, «Тоска» Пуччини. Прозвучат увертюра к опере «Руслан и Людмила» Глинки, «Три чуда» из оперы «Сказка о царе Салтане» и симфоническая сюита «Испанское каприччио» Римского-Корсакова, фрагменты из музыки балета «Щелкунчик» Чайковского, «Рассвет на Москве-реке» (вступление к опере «Хованщина») Мусоргского и фрагменты из музыки балета «Жар-птица» Стравинского.