Russian-Syrian relations at the present stage. © Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

He refused the US invitation to join the Baghdad Pact directed against the USSR and entered into a military alliance with Egypt, and in 1956, during the Suez crisis, Syria broke off diplomatic relations with France and Great Britain. Under the obvious influence of the policies of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Syria was increasingly moving away from the West and moving closer to the USSR. Since the mid-1950s, a large apparatus of Soviet military advisers and specialists has been stationed in Syria. The Soviet Union provided diplomatic and military support to Syria against Turkey and, from the 1960s, Israel. Syria, along with Iraq, were strategic partners of the USSR in the Middle East. In 1980, the USSR and Syria entered into a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. With the participation of Soviet specialists, dozens of important economic facilities were built in Syria. The USSR took an active part in increasing the country's defense capability.

In 1971, a logistics support center for the Navy was established in the Mediterranean port of Tartus.

Until 1991, Syria was one of the main buyers Soviet weapons. During the period from 1956, when the first military contract was signed between the Soviet Union and Syria, until the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Syria was supplied with weapons totaling more than $26 billion, including 65 tactical and operational-tactical missile systems, about 5 thousand tanks, more than 1200 combat aircraft, 4200 artillery pieces and mortars, anti-aircraft missile systems, about 70 warships and boats. By the end of the 20th century, the Syrian army was more than 90% equipped with Soviet weapons. The USSR also conducted training for Syrian officers.

The Syrian leadership, for its part, provided serious support to the foreign policy initiatives of the USSR. In particular, Syria was one of the few countries that supported the introduction Soviet troops to Afghanistan when discussed at General Assembly UN, and on key issues Syria voted in solidarity with the countries of the Warsaw Pact.

With the collapse of the USSR, Russia largely lost its position in Syria and the Middle East as a whole and was essentially forced to rebuild relations with the countries of the region. The reorientation of Russian foreign policy priorities to the West, as well as the reluctance of the Syrian side to pay off the Soviet debt to Russia (despite the recognition of Russia as the official successor of the USSR) led to the fact that trade turnover between the two countries fell from one billion dollars in 1991 to below 100 million dollars in 1993 .

Military-technical cooperation (MTC) with Syria was practically frozen in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR. Syria's debt for the supplied equipment and weapons at that time amounted to about $14.5 billion. In 2005, Russia wrote off $10 billion of Syria's debt in exchange for guarantees of new arms orders. The remaining part of the debt was restructured.

Relations in the military-technical cooperation sphere resumed in mid-1994, when a corresponding agreement was signed in Damascus.

In 1996, the volume of supplies to Syria military equipment and spare parts amounted to $1.3 million, in 1997 - $1 million.

After the official visit to Damascus of Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeev in November 1998, the parties signed several new agreements in the field of military-technical cooperation. Russia supplied Syria with a large batch of AKS-74U and AK-74M assault rifles, grenade launchers and ammunition. In 1999, the implementation of the 1996 contract for the supply of Syria began Russian ATGMs"Metis-M" and "Kornet-E".

During the visit of the SAR Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass to the Russian Federation in May 2001, the Syrian side announced its desire to modernize the equipment supplied Soviet time anti-aircraft missile systems long range S-200E, T-55 and T-72 tanks, combat vehicles infantry BMP-1, Su-24, MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-25 and MiG-29 aircraft.

In 2006, Russia supplied Strelets anti-aircraft missile systems to Syria. In the same year, a contract was concluded for the supply of Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems to Syria (by 2014, eleven out of 36 ordered were delivered) and the modernization of 1 thousand T-72 tanks (the contract was completed in 2011).

In 2007, contracts were signed for the sale to Syria of Bastion-P coastal anti-ship missile systems with Yakhont missiles (deliveries were carried out in 2010-2011), Buk air defense systems (at least 6 of the 8 ordered divisions were delivered) and fighters MiG-31E. In the same year, a contract was signed for the repair of 25 Mi-25 helicopters (completed in 2012) and the supply of simulators for training pilots of Mi-17Mi-35 helicopters (completed in 2011).

Western analysts reported that by June 2008 there were a large number of Russian military personnel, advisers and operation and maintenance specialists - thus Moscow increased its capabilities in Syria and returned the status quo that existed under the USSR: 370: 367

In August 2008, President Bashar al-Assad supported the actions of Russian troops in South Ossetia. The Syrian leader assured that Damascus is ready to cooperate with Russia in everything that can strengthen its security.

In 2010, an agreement was signed on the supply of four (according to other sources, six divisions) S-300 air defense systems to Syria. In September 2015, the Kommersant newspaper, citing sources in the field of military-technical cooperation with foreign countries, reported that instead of supplying the S-300, a batch of BTR-82A armored personnel carriers, Ural military trucks, small arms, grenade launchers and other weapons.

Russian-Syrian relations. 3

Story. 3

Strategic cooperation. 5

Economic ties. 6

Conflict in Syria. 7

The essence of the conflict. 7

Rebels. 7

Criticism of the Assad government 8

Statements against interference in the internal affairs of Syria 9

The logic of Moscow's support for the Assad regime. eleven

Russian-Syrian relations.

Story.

Relations between Russia and Syria have a long, almost four-century tradition that goes far beyond the historical framework of official interstate relations established, as is known, in July 1944.

The interest of the inhabitants of ancient Rus' in Syria (as the territories of modern Syria, Lebanon and Palestine were historically called) was due to the fact that for them it was a holy land, the land where Christianity was born. The first knowledge about Syria came to Rus' thanks to church connections with the Orthodox Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as stories from pilgrims.

Russian-Syrian ties were not limited to culture and religion. Already in the middle of the 19th century. Russia ranked fourth after England, France and Egypt in the total volume of goods imported into Syria. Wheat, corn, and iron were imported from Russia. For example, in 1850, 13 ships arrived at the port of Beirut under Russian flag. In 1852, out of 13 cargoes of cotton exported from Syria, six cargoes were sent to Russia.

The Imperial Palestine Society, created in 1882, contributed to the increased interest in Russia in Syria. It was headed by the uncle of Emperor Nicholas II, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. Under the auspices of this society, a whole network of Orthodox schools and pedagogical colleges was created in Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, in which Russian teachers also worked.

The importance that Russia attached to relations with Syria is evidenced by the fact that until 1914 it had 7 consular missions there: in Beirut, Aleppo, Damascus, Saida, Hama, Tripoli and Latakia.

With the outbreak of the First World War, for well-known reasons, ties between Russia and Syria were interrupted for a long time, only to be resumed under completely new conditions - after France was forced to recognize the independence, at first formal, of the Syrian Republic.

July 21, 1944 addressed to the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR V.M. Molotov. came a message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Republic, Jamil Mardam Bey, which said: “Syria, driven by its admiration for the Soviet people, whose efforts and successes in the great struggle of democracy against the spirit of conquest and domination provide the basis for legitimate hopes for future freedom and equality for all nations large and small..., would be happy to establish and maintain friendly diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.”

How seriously the leadership of the USSR took this message, despite the fact that not all of the territory of the Soviet Union had yet been liberated from the fascist invaders, is evidenced by the fact that already in the same month diplomatic relations were established between the two states. The news of this was greeted with great enthusiasm by the broad masses of Syria.

The nature of the relations that were established between the USSR and Syria is evidenced by the fact that in March 1945, the Soviet government, at the request of the Syrian government, which went against the will of France in this matter, which actually retained the mandate over Syria, agreed to take upon itself the protection of the interests of Syria in Japan.

As you know, France refused to withdraw its troops from Syria and demanded special privileges for itself on the territory of this country. Things got to the point where French planes bombed Damascus and other Syrian cities.

The Soviet Union's response was swift and decisive. Already on June 2, 1945, the newspaper Pravda and other Soviet media published a message from the Information Bureau of the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs of the USSR that the Soviet government had addressed a special statement to the government of France, as well as to the governments of the United States and China, which noted that the events in Syria and Lebanon is inconsistent with the spirit of the decisions taken at Dumbarton Oaks and the objectives of the United Nations conference taking place in San Francisco. Therefore, the Soviet government believes that urgent measures must be taken to stop military operations in Syria and Lebanon and resolve the conflict peacefully.

As is known, as a result of behind-the-scenes negotiations, England and France entered into an agreement on December 13, 1945 on the further occupation of Syria and Lebanon.

In February 1946, the governments of Syria and Lebanon brought up the issue of evacuation of foreign troops for discussion in the UN Security Council. Their demand was supported by the delegations of the Soviet Union, Poland, Egypt and Mexico. But the US resolution put to a vote, reflecting the interests of England and France, practically froze the solution to the problem. Due to this Soviet Union, for the first time in the history of this organization, using the veto power, prevented the adoption of a decision that did not meet the national interests of Syria and Lebanon. England and France in March 1946 were forced to agree to the withdrawal of their troops from the territories of both countries.

Thus, we can rightfully assert that the formation and successful development of multifaceted relations between independent Syria and the Soviet Union, which reached their peak in the 70–80s of the 20th century, were largely facilitated by the rich traditions that were laid down over almost four centuries mutual contacts of many generations of representatives of the Russian and Syrian peoples. The task of current and future generations of diplomats, scientists, businessmen and all citizens Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic - to continue and enrich these traditions with content appropriate to the new era. It seems that this conference, which is being held on the eve of the state visit of Syrian Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Moscow and is organized by, in addition to the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Syrian Arab Republic Embassy in Moscow and the Association of Syrian Citizens in the Russian Federation, is intended to make an important contribution to solving this problem.

Strategic cooperation.

Almost from the moment the Syrian Arab Republic was founded, the Soviet Union provided it with diplomatic and military support in the confrontation with Israel. After the Ba'ath Party came to power in Syria in 1963, a material organization was founded in the Mediterranean port of Tartus. technical part USSR Navy. Soviet equipment was supplied to Syria in huge quantities. firearms, cars, tanks, planes, missiles. Thus, Syria became the most loyal state to the Soviet Union in the Middle East.

Syria was unable to pay the Soviet Union for the weapons supplied, so by 1992 its debt to Russia exceeded $13 billion. In 2005, Russia wrote off $10 billion to Syria in exchange for guarantees of new arms orders. Thus, after a long period of stagnation in the 90s, military-technical cooperation between the two countries resumed.

Supplies Russian weapons to Syria are complicated by the country's difficult relations with the United States and Israel. In particular, Israel has repeatedly protested against the supply of the S-300 missile defense system and MiG-31 interceptors to Syria, as well as after the start of negotiations on the possible construction of a full-fledged Russian Navy base in Tartus.

Economic ties.

In 2005, trade turnover amounted to $459.8 million.

In 1994, the Protocol on the development of trade, economic and technical cooperation was signed, in accordance with which a permanent Russian-Syrian commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation (IPC) was created.

Russian companies and organizations are showing interest in cooperation with Syria, mainly in the oil and gas sector. Based on the results of tenders, contracts were signed by Russian companies: Tatneft (March 2005), Soyuzneftegaz CJSC (2005), Stroytransgaz OJSC (December 2005).

In September 2004, a bilateral Russian-Syrian Business Council (RSBC) was created in Damascus under the auspices of the Russian-Arab Business Council. On the Russian side, the Council is headed by the General Director of the Pipe Metallurgical Company D. A. Pumpyansky, on the Syrian side - by the Vice President of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce, President chamber of commerce Aleppo, MP S. Mallah.

Conflict in Syria.

The essence of the conflict.

The conflict in Syria is social, but strongly implicated in religious differences. A representative of the Assad clan is in power. If we count the reign of his father, the clan has been in power for 40 years. Assad and his associates, including the top of the army, are Alawites (a small branch of Islam), about 10% of them in Syria, the rest of the inhabitants are Sunnis. The Sunni struggle for equal rights has been going on for a very long time, but previously it was always brutally suppressed by the Syrian army. However, this time, part of the army sided with the rebels and the civil war in Syria is in full swing. Assad is helped by Iran, supported by Russia and China, and the Sunnis - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, USA and many others.

Rebels.

According to the Syrian authorities, smugglers were the main instigator of the unrest in border towns. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suggested that the forces of a “new empire” were behind the rebels. This opinion is partly supported by conservative circles in the United States, who intend to weaken China's influence in the region with the help of the rebels. However, Israeli authorities believe that Iran is behind the rebels, and the backbone of the armed resistance to the army is made up of Muslim brothers. An opposition Lebanese newspaper reported that funding for Syrian rebels comes through Lebanon.

According to the description of a student from Homsa, the following picture could be observed: in the market, several dozen people gather with anti-government slogans for literally five minutes, they are quickly filmed on mobile phones, after which the entire crowd quickly dissolves.

On July 29, 2011, the creation of the Free Syrian Army was announced. It arose as a result of the self-organization of deserted officers of the Syrian armed forces under the leadership of Colonel Riyad Assad. A video message was released calling on the Syrian military to join the opposition.

For some time, in parallel with the FSA, there was another structure - the “Movement of Free Officers”. But after its founder, Lieutenant Colonel Hussein Harmoush, was kidnapped in Turkey by Syrian intelligence officers, the two groups decided to merge. This was announced on September 23, 2011.

Criticism of the Assad government

The Syrian opposition was also supported by Great Britain, Türkiye, Italy and France

On November 12, 2011, the League of Arab States (LAS) suspended Syria's participation in the organization's activities, considering the use of violence by the country's government against demonstrators unacceptable.

On December 2, 2011, the UN Human Rights Council, during a special session, approved a resolution condemning the persistent, large-scale and systematic violations of human rights during the suppression of anti-government protests in Syria. Thirty-seven of its 47 members voted for the resolution condemning Damascus for refusing to implement previous decisions of the Council. Four states, including Russia and China, voted against it. Six countries abstained.

On March 24, 2011, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the Syrian authorities to renounce violence against demonstrators.

On February 17, 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution expressing condemnation of the Bashar al-Assad regime and full support for the demands of the Arab League. 137 states voted for the resolution, 17 states abstained. 12 states voted against (Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Bolivia, Belarus, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Syria).

Statements against interference in the internal affairs of Syria

In April 2011, Russia’s first deputy permanent representative to the UN, Alexander Pankin, said that “the current situation in Syria, despite the aggravation and tension, does not pose a threat to international peace and security,” and therefore there is no need for international intervention in the internal affairs of Syria.

China called on the international community to refrain from interfering in Syria's internal affairs.

The Communist Party of the USA came up with the slogan: “Hands off Syria.”

NATO has no intention of intervening in the conflict in Syria.

Attempts to resolve the conflict

On August 9, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He sought an end to the crackdown, in which some 1,600 civilians were allegedly killed, and said the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would be similar to that of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi if he did not immediately stop “the massacre of his people.” This number of victims of the conflict makes it one of the bloodiest in the Arab world.

On August 1, the Russian Foreign Ministry called for an end to the use of force against civilians and government officials in Syria. Moscow is expressing serious concern over incoming information about numerous victims. The use of force against both civilians and government officials is unacceptable and must be stopped.

On February 7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Mikhail Fradkov arrived in Damascus for negotiations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The Arab League demanded that Syria allow 500 observers into the country. According to a statement by the leadership of the Arab League, if Damascus does not allow the arrival of observers who must make sure that the Assad regime has stopped destroying its opponents, then on November 26, the Arab League will discuss the introduction of sanctions against Syria - even a trade embargo. Among other things, Syria faces a ban on air traffic with Arab countries, as well as a freeze on all assets of the Central Bank of this country in the Arab League member countries.

The position of Iran and Russia in defense of the Assad regime led to the fact that Syrian oppositionists burned the flags of these states during a demonstration on May 20 in Hama.

On October 4, the draft UN Security Council resolution on Syria, which was prepared by European states, was blocked by Russia and China, which exercised their veto power as permanent members of the UN Security Council. The draft provided for sanctions if the Syrian authorities continued to suppress the opposition in that country. Nine states voted for the resolution, four countries (Brazil, India, Lebanon and South Africa) abstained from voting. The draft resolution prepared by France, Germany, Great Britain and Portugal was slightly modified (demands for the immediate imposition of sanctions were removed from the text), but even after softening its text, Russia and China voted against it.

Rebels. 7
Criticism of the Assad government 8
Statements against interference in the internal affairs of Syria 9
Attempts to resolve the conflict 9
The logic of Moscow's support for the Assad regime. eleven

During the visit, representatives of " Business Russia", the Republic of Crimea and the Organizing Committee of the IV Yalta International Economic Forum met with the Prime Minister of Syria Imad Khamis, Minister of Economy and foreign trade Mohammed Samer Al-Khalil and the country's largest businessmen.

A large delegation of Syrian politicians and businessmen is planned at the forum in Yalta. “The Prime Minister of Syria assured that there will be a large high-status delegation from Syria, which will include about 100 people, including members of the government, key ministers, largest businessmen, leaders of the Syrian-Russian Business Council, Chambers of Industry, Commerce and Agriculture,” spoke about the plans co-chairman of “Business Russia” and the Organizing Committee of the IV YIEF Andrey Nazarov. He also noted that in order to quickly resolve the issues raised, the Prime Minister intends to personally lead the delegation.

It is planned that a whole package of investment agreements, including an agreement on the preparation of direct shipping links between the Republic of Crimea and Syria, will be signed at YIEF.

“To consolidate this cooperation and strengthen friendship between our peoples on the eve of the Yalta Forum on Youth Day, which coincided with Syrian Independence Day, we will open two olive Alleys of Friendship in Yalta and Latakia. The mayors of the two cities will also sign twinning agreements, and the grand opening of a monument dedicated to Russian-Syrian friendship“, explained Andrei Nazarov.

Expanding bilateral cooperation

The parties discussed issues of post-crisis reconstruction in Syria and the expansion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the countries. According to Andrei Nazarov, it is possible to reach the pre-war level of trade turnover between Russia and Syria, which was estimated at $2 billion, within the next 3 years.

“The Syrians are primarily interested in the supply of pharmaceuticals, agricultural fertilizers, reinforcement and grain, the production of which has dropped to 2 million tons per year. With our production volumes of 130 million tons, this opens up new export opportunities for Russia. In this regard Chairman of the Syrian Chamber of Agriculture Mohammed Al Keto proposed not only to provide Russian producers with land for sowing, but also to open a grain hub in one of the ports of Crimea,” noted the co-chairman of the Organizing Committee of the IV YMFE.

“Today a number of shuttles are already running, but they are clearly not enough to satisfy the growing needs of both Syria and Russia, since Syrian goods and food products are due to High Quality and low cost could enter the domestic market and even displace Turkish and Israeli vegetables and fruits,” he emphasized.

Construction is a promising direction

Andrei Nazarov also believes that the construction industry will be a promising area for the development of cooperation: “The war has destroyed a third of Syria’s housing stock. In this regard, Russian investors and developers were invited to join the implementation of large projects for the construction of 14-story buildings designed for 10 thousand apartments in Damascus and Aleppo.”

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea to the President of Russia Georgy Muradov drew attention to the request of the Syrian side regarding the restoration of the republic’s infrastructure: “In Syria there is now a great need for the restoration of roads, including railways. We have in Crimea large enterprise, which produces railway equipment: switches, sidings and much more. It can supply this equipment to Syria. In addition, our road construction organizations, which are currently building the Tavrida highway, are gaining serious experience and can be involved in the restoration of roads in Syria.”

The permanent representative also noted the prospects for the development of port relations between Syria and the region: “Crimea is the geographically closest region of Russia to Syria, so building stable connections in the field of maritime shipping, and subsequently passenger connections, can be very promising. If we establish direct maritime traffic, this will be one of the major positives that will be able to replenish the budgets of Crimea and Syria.”

Took extreme forms. The threats posed by terrorists entrenched in Syria have gone beyond the borders of not only this country, but also the entire MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).

On December 11, 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Syria. At the Khmeimim airbase, Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Russian and Syrian military personnel who took part in the anti-terrorist operation in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The Supreme Commander-in-Chief ordered the Minister of Defense and Chief General Staff begin the withdrawal of the Russian group of troops from Syria to permanent deployment points.

A bilateral meeting of the heads of Russia and Syria also took place.

IN last years political interaction between Russia and Syria is focused exclusively on issues of internal Syrian settlement. From the very beginning of the Syrian crisis, Russia has insisted on resolving the situation through peaceful means through broad inter-Syrian dialogue.

Russia, along with Turkey and Iran, acts as a guarantor of the truce in Syria. The countries initiated the Astana process, the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi, thereby creating conditions for intensifying the process of political settlement.

Thanks to the Astana format, de-escalation zones have been created and are functioning on a temporary basis, making it possible to ensure a sustainable ceasefire, improve the humanitarian situation, and also begin to restore the destroyed social and economic infrastructure.

According to the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, in 2017, Russia’s trade turnover with Syria amounted to $282.7 million, including Russian exports of $279.8 million and imports of $2.9 million.

In structure Russian exports food products and agricultural raw materials (34.76% of total exports), wood and pulp and paper products (15.59%), products chemical industry(10.46%), machinery, equipment and vehicles (5,01%).

Imports are represented by food products and agricultural raw materials (95.43% of total imports), wood and pulp and paper products (2.51%), chemical industry products (1.00%).

The logistics unit of the USSR Navy was founded in the Syrian port of Tartus.

On January 18, 2017, Russia and Syria signed an agreement on the expansion and modernization of the Russian Navy support center in Syrian Tartus, as well as a protocol defining the conditions for the deployment of Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft in Syria. According to the text of the agreement on the expansion and modernization of the naval station in Tartus, it is valid for 49 years and is automatically extended for subsequent 25-year periods.

Since 1995, the Intergovernmental Agreement on Cultural and Scientific Cooperation has been in force. In October 2017, the Russkiy Mir Foundation opened in Damascus state university Russian center. It is equipped with a Russian-language library, films, educational programs, etc.

* Terrorist organization banned in Russia

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

“Thank you, Russia!” - this phrase is often heard in Syria, it is written on the walls of buildings. Among the flags that Syrians hold in their hands at patriotic demonstrations, you can often see Russian ones. In his recent inaugural speech, SAR President Bashar Al-Assad expressed deep gratitude to Russia and its people.

This week marks 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and Russia. On this occasion, the foreign ministers of both countries - Walid Al-Muallem and Sergei Lavrov - exchanged congratulatory messages.

Walid Al-Muallem in his letter warmly thanked Russia - both the state and the people - for their support in the global battle in which Syria confronts the will of Western countries, as well as radical Wahhabi ideas. According to the head of the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Syria is confident in its victory, which will be achieved thanks to the unity of the people and the help of allies in the world, primarily Russia.

For his part, Sergei Lavrov recalled that diplomatic relations between the countries began in the forties of the twentieth century, when the Soviet Union was the first state to recognize the independence of Syria.

Then, in 1944, when the Syrians fought for their freedom against the French colonialists, on July 21 people's commissar Foreign Affairs of the USSR V.M. Molotov received a letter from the head of the Syrian Foreign Ministry Jamil Mardam Bey, in which he expressed his admiration for the Soviet people and their victories and proposed establishing diplomatic relations.

Despite the fact that the Soviet Union itself was tormented by a merciless war against fascism, despite the fact that Syria itself had not yet finally gained independence, the friendly proposal was accepted. Thus, the Soviet Union recognized the independence of the SAR.

Now, of course, Russia's situation is much better, and one could expect the same step in relation to the young, emerging Novorossiya - all that is needed is the will of the Kremlin.

The Syrians enthusiastically accepted the support from the socialist state and expressed their gratitude from the bottom of their hearts to the Soviet people for his principles and good attitude.

In November 1944, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Alexander III sent a letter to the Soviet ambassador, in which he congratulated the USSR on the 27th anniversary of the Revolution and declared his readiness to visit Moscow. This trip really took place.

In the spring of 1945, the leadership of the USSR supported the initiative of the SAR to participate in International conference in San Francisco, where the UN was founded. Thus, Syria became one of the founding countries of the UN.

After the war, France did not want to part with the mandated territory, refused to withdraw its troops, and it even got to the point that French aircraft bombed Damascus and other Syrian cities. Syria turned for support to the force in which it saw justice - the Soviet Union.

The USSR government responded by demanding that France stop military operations in Syria. In addition, it appealed to the leadership of the United States and China to assist in this matter, citing the decisions taken at the San Francisco Conference. However, France, with the support of England, did not want to give up the occupation of Syria, as well as Lebanon. And only the iron will of Moscow made it possible to ensure that the issue of the withdrawal of foreign troops from these countries was raised in the UN Security Council. The United States responded by putting forward another draft resolution - in favor of France. Then the Soviet Union used the right of veto for the first time, not allowing the adoption of a document that infringed on the interests of the peoples of Syria and Lebanon.

Eventually, France was forced to withdraw its troops, and on April 17, 1946, the last colonial soldier left Syrian territory.
Cooperation between the USSR and the SAR was very fruitful, especially intensified after the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party came to power as a result of the March 8, 1963 Revolution.

With the cooperation between the two countries, more than 80 large industrial facilities, about 2 thousand kilometers of railway tracks, and 3.7 thousand kilometers of power lines were built in Syria. There was an active exchange of students - more than 35 thousand Syrians studied in Soviet, and then Russian universities. Many of the Syrians found their personal happiness in Moscow and other cities - there are many mixed marriages, which also creates a solid foundation of brotherhood between our peoples.

In 1980, a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was concluded between the SAR and the USSR, which, in particular, implies the provision of military assistance if necessary. Moreover, this agreement has not yet been de-ratified.

With the beginning tragic events, associated with the collapse of the USSR and the socialist camp, this cooperation was suspended. The Yeltsin administration had completely different priorities. Most Syrians of the older generation still speak with great pain about the misfortune that befell the Soviet peoples.

It was hard for Syria to be left without the support of its most powerful ally, but it survived. Relations were established with countries Latin America, with Belarus, with the DPRK and other states that also resisted the dictates of the United States and NATO.

However, the ties between our peoples were not allowed to break. In 1999, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad visited Moscow, during which some ties were partially, but still weakly, restored. After the death of Hafez, the business of cooperation with Russia continued new president, Bashar Al-Assad.

And now, when the colonialists have remembered their past claims and are shedding the blood of the Syrian people with the hands of their mercenaries, it would be much more difficult for Damascus to survive without diplomatic and economic assistance from Russia. In particular, Moscow, together with Beijing, has repeatedly vetoed Western attempts to repeat the Libyan scenario in Syria, which ended, as we know, the cruellest reprisal over the Libyan Jamahiriya and the monstrous murder of its leader Muammar Al-Gaddafi. Oh, how the States still want to do the same on the streets of Damascus, Homs, Latakia... But it doesn’t work. Syria, with the political assistance of Russia, has been steadfastly fighting against such attempts and against hordes of mercenary terrorists for more than three years.

The Syrians greeted with great enthusiasm the visit of Sergei Lavrov, as well as Mikhail Fradkov, to Damascus in February 2012. Guests from Russia traveled from the airport to the meeting places along a continuous “living corridor” of people who came out to greet them. Syrians still remember that visit with warmth.

“Syria, Russia – friendship forever!” - this is the slogan Syrians chanted in Russian at rallies. It is more relevant than ever.

Meanwhile, a special meeting was held at the UN Security Council on the topic of the Middle East. The situation in the Gaza Strip, as well as in Syria, was discussed there. The permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, also spoke, saying that “the whole world is shocked by the scale of human tragedy in the region".

Churkin, on behalf of Russia, welcomed the recent appointment of a new UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan De Mistura, and expressed hope that he will make a significant contribution to the establishment of the Syrian political process.

The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation expressed concern about the situation on the ground in Syria: “We are especially concerned about the increasing terrorist activity in Syria and in the region as a whole. We condemn the seizure last week by Islamic State militants of the large Shaar gas field in the governorate of Homs, which was accompanied by a massacre of the soldiers and militia guarding the facility, as well as its personnel. This incident once again emphasizes the imperative of accepting the draft statement of the Security Council Chairman proposed by Russia on the inadmissibility of oil trade with terrorist organizations in Syria and Iraq.”

In addition, the Russian diplomat pointed out the inadmissibility of such a situation when terrorist organizations, such as Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, “cut off the oxygen in one country, but it is considered possible to tolerate and even feed their activities in another country, such as Syria.”

Russia continues to provide diplomatic support to Syria. So far, it is one of the few countries that bet on international level the question of terrorist crimes against Syrians. Unfortunately, many other “players” on the world stage only cover up these crimes, and for them the suffering of the Syrian people is only a subject of political speculation.