Esteemed Mr. Vice President. We are very glad having this opportunity to receive you in Moscow. Russia and Syria are bound by very old and close relations. We practically in all areas, one can say, had privileged relations. But now too, when Syria is reaching new frontiers in its development, when relations are taking shape in a sufficiently complicated way in the Middle East and on the Palestinian-Israeli track, and around Iraq - Russian-Syrian relations, without doubt, are very significant, very important for us, in order to maintain the dialogue, in order to pursue the line which meets our interests.

We attach great importance to the development of economic ties with Syria as well. Before 1992 the volume of trade between us was very large, in the region of 1 billion US dollars. Then we went through a period of considerable decline; now the trade turnover not only has stabilized, but also has a tendency for continuous growth. But it is perfectly clear that its level is thus far insufficient.

Here our specialists have concrete plans, good large-scale projects are in the pipeline. Just as in the field of military technological cooperation, which has always constituted a significant part of our collaboration; not to speak of contacts at a high political level. The coordination of our efforts on the international scene - this was the topic with which I started - has always been very significant and fixed.

I hope that your visit, Esteemed Mr. Vice President, will give a good impetus in the development of relations between the two countries in all these areas. In Moscow you have a whole series of meetings scheduled, including those in the Government of the Russian Federation and with ministers and the heads of a variety of agencies. I want to wish you success in your work.


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© Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

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