Iran, Russia Discuss Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – High-ranking representatives from Iran and Russia held a significant meeting in Moscow on Monday to discuss the latest developments in Syria and coordinate policies towards the crisis-ridden country.
Ali Akbar Velayati, the international adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, met with Russia's Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, in Moscow on Monday.
During the lengthy gathering, the two officials exchanged views on the most pressing matters surrounding Syria and the region, as well as Tehran-Moscow cooperation, particularly within the framework of a quadripartite anti-terrorism coalition in Syria comprised of Iran, Russia, Iraq and Syria.
The two politicians also shared views in finding a comprehensive, political solution to the 5-year-old crisis in Syria.
Velayati and Lavrentiev both insisted that settlement of the conflicts in Syria should involve a Syrian-Syrian solution, respect the rights of Syrian people in deciding their own fate, and exclude any foreign interference or terrorist groups.
Syria has been entangled in civil war since March 2011, with Takfiri terrorist groups like Daesh controlling parts of it, mostly in the east.
In the past five years, more than 250,000 people have died in Syria -overwhelmingly civilians- and around 4 million Syrians are now refugees in other countries. Around 8 million others have been displaced internally.
