Al-Shara' on an official visit to Russia to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments

Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara' arrived this morning, Wednesday, in the Russian capital Moscow on an official visit, during which he will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about bilateral relations and regional and international developments of mutual interest.
The Syrian news agency "SANA" reported that the visit comes as part of the reorganization of bilateral relations between Damascus and Moscow, and to discuss files of political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

An official delegation accompanies the Syrian president

President al-Shara' is accompanied on his visit by an official delegation that includes Foreign Minister As'ad al-Shaybani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and the Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic Maher al-Shara'.

It is scheduled that the Syrian president will also meet representatives of the Syrian community in Russia during the visit, in a meeting described as an opportunity to enhance communication with the citizens of the homeland abroad.

Russian military bases on the agenda of the talks

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that issues related to Russian military bases in Syria will be among the topics discussed between the two presidents.
Peskov stated in a press statement: "It is certain that this issue will be raised in one way or another during today's talks... Yes, that can be expected."
He added: "It is an important day for Russian-Syrian relations, as it witnesses the first direct meeting at the highest level since the change of power in the Syrian Arab Republic."

The timing of the meeting and the agenda of the talks

Peskov clarified that the meeting between the two presidents will begin after one o'clock in the afternoon Moscow time, noting that the talks will address files of political and economic cooperation, in addition to developments in the Middle East.

No press conference after the meeting

The Kremlin spokesman indicated that there will be no joint press conference between the two presidents at the end of the meeting, explaining that the results of the talks will be issued in official statements later from both the Russian and Syrian sides.