Russia, Syria Call for Speedy Crisis Settlement in Middle EastRussian top diplomatic and security officials Wednesday held here intensive talks with visiting Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Talas on the crisis situation in the Middle East, and called for an early total settlement.After his meeting with Talas, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told reporters that it is necessary for Israelis and Palestinians take urgent steps toward each other to stop confrontation and normalize the situation around the Palestinian territories. He urged the two sides to return to the negotiating table, and stressed the importance of preventing escalation in the Israel- Lebanon-Syria triangle. Talas spoke of Russia's important role in improving the situation in the Middle East and called for the continuation of energetic efforts in this direction. The minister spoke in favor of a speedy political settlement of the situation around Iraq on the basis of existing decisions of the international community. He praised Russian proposals on a package settlement in and around Iraq in the context of the task of restoring peace and stability in the Persian Gulf zone. Both sides also spoke for further expanding cooperation between the two countries, in particular in defense and arms trade. On the same day, Russian Security Council Chief Vladimir Rushailo met with Talas in the Kremlin. They said Russia and Syria will joint hands in combating international terrorism, Rushailo said Russia is ready to further develop cooperation with Syrian law-enforcement agencies and special services in combating terrorism and its main financial source: drug trafficking. In the day, Talas and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov discussed international regional security, the state and prospects of Russian-Syrian cooperation in the military sphere. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |