- Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/ASSAD PUTIN-UPDATE Assad unexpectedly visits Moscow, meets Putin
- Date: 21st October 2015
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 20, 2015) (RUSSIAN POOL) MEETING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING: "Thank you very much, mister President. (PAUSES FOR TRANSLATION) First of all, I would like to thank you and the state of Russia and the Russian officials (CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF ASSAD, PUTIN AND INTERPRETER) and of course the Russian people, for their support of the Syrian people." INTERPRETER SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING: "I thank you for standing up for Syria's unity and its independence. (PAUSES FOR TRANSLATION OVER SHOT OF PUTIN LISTENING, CONTINUES IN SHOT) And more important than that, this is being done within the framework of international law.'' RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING : ''And I would like to assure you that the efforts you have undertaken, first and foremost, politically since the beginning of the crisis (CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTER SERGEI SHOIGU LISTENING AND MEETING IN PROGRESS) had the effect of not letting events develop into a more tragic scenario.'' RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING: "(STARTS OVER SHOT OF ASSAD SPEAKING, PUTIN AND INTERPRETER LISTENING) And the terrorism that is now spreading today (CONTINUES IN SHOT) could have, without your decisions and actions, spread to even more territories and states not just in our region, but to other regions too.'' MEETING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING: ''And those steps were confirmed in your latest involvement showing a united front in fighting terrorism. (PAUSES FOR TRANSLATION OVER SHOT OF INTERPRETER SPEAKING, PUTIN AND ASSAD LISTENING) And of course not one person thinks about military action unless it has a political goal that will benefit the people.'' MEETING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING: "(STARTS OVER SHOT OF ASSAD SPEAKING, PUTIN AND INTERPRETER LISTENING) And of course the political goal that the Syrian people want, for the country's future, that is our common goal. (PAUSES FOR TRANSLATION, CONTINUES OVER SHOTS OF MEETING IN PROGRESS, PUTIN LISTENING ) And it's necessary to say, as you have said more than once, that the aim of this operation, that what you and we are doing in Syria is fighting terrorism, firstly because it's a danger for countries, and secondly it is an obstacle with regards to any true political steps that can take place on the ground.'' PUTIN AND ASSAD LISTENING TO INTERPRETER SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING: ''The outcome is for all nations to aspire for freedom and every nation aspires to be a part of building its country, and not just those responsible in any country in the world. (TRANSLATOR SPEAKING/PUTIN LISTENING) And I would like to end by saying, once again thank you, thank you to the Russian people for all the help they provide in the name of peace, to our country, and we are certain that we will triumph over terrorism, and that we will rebuild our country, economically, politically and structurally.'' WIDE OF MEETING
- Embargoed: 5th November 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA839Q8KLANMPP08TU4D99J0RNO
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: President Bashar al-Assad made a surprise visit to Moscow on Tuesday (October 20) evening to thank Russia's President Vladimir Putin for launching air strikes against Islamist militants in Syria.
The Kremlin made the details of the visit public a day later, on Wednesday (October 21). It did not say whether the Syrian leader was still in Moscow or had returned home. Russian President Vladimir Putin received Assad in the Kremlin.
"First of all, I would like to thank you and the state of Russia and the Russian officials, and of course the Russian people, for their support of the Syrian people. I thank you for standing up for Syria's unity and its independence. And more important than that, this is being done within the framework of international law", said Assad addressing Putin during a meeting also attended by Russian foreign and defence ministers.
"And I would like to assure you that the efforts you have undertaken, first and foremost, politically since the beginning of the crisis had the effect of not letting events develop into a more tragic scenario", Assad said.
He added that without Russia's decision to start air strikes against the Islamic State infrastructure in Syria, militants would have spread to even more territories and states not just in Middle East, but to other regions too.
"And it's necessary to say, as you have said more than once, that the aim of this operation, that what you and we are doing in Syria is fighting terrorism, firstly because it's a danger for countries, and secondly it is an obstacle with regards to any true political steps that can take place on the ground", said Assad.
"And I would like to end by saying, once again thank you, thank you to the Russian people for all the help they provide in the name of peace, to our country, and we are certain that we will triumph over terrorism, and that we will rebuild our country, economically, politically and structurally," he added.
The visit is believed to be Assad's first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011 and comes three weeks after Russia launched a campaign of air strikes against Islamist militants in Syria on Sept. 30.
At the meeting, Putin said Russia was also ready to help with a political solution in Syria, and would work closely on that with other world powers who want a peaceful solution to Syria's prolonged conflict.
The Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday its planes had flown 46 sorties and struck 83 militant targets in Syria in the last 24 hours. It was quoted as saying it had destroyed a factory making landmines and an explosives warehouse in the Aleppo area, as well as a militant camp elsewhere.
The ministry also said it had overheard Islamic State commanders in Syria talking to their counterparts in Al-Nusra about the possibility of joining forces to take on the Syrian army.
Since September 30 Russia has been bombarding militant positions in Syria from the air, while at the same time a U.S. lead coalition has been flying missions in the same airspace. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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