- (AFP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to restore
close diplomatic ties with Moscow's Soviet-era ally Syria at a meeting
with Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam.
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- Putin and Khaddam promised to defend each other's interests
as military confrontation loomed over Iraq, and to work together to help
calm Israeli-Palestinian violence.
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- "Russian-Syrian relations are very important. We
must hold dialogue and hold to a line that answers our interests,"
Putin said.
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- His remarks came in an introductory speech to Khaddam
that was broadcast on Russian television. The meeting, which is also aimed
at preparing a visit to Moscow by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, then
went into closed session.
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- Both Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council,
and Syria, which is currently a non-permanent member, are opposed to any
US military strikes on Iraq.
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- Putin said Moscow and Damascus had to draft joint policies,
both on the looming confrontation over Iraq and on ways to solve Israeli-Palestinian
violence.
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- Russia and Syria were "united by long-standing close
ties," he said.
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- "I expect that your visit will serve as a good impetus
for our relations to develop on all fronts," he told Khaddam.
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- Syria was a close ally of Moscow's during the Soviet
era, receiving military backing at a time when Russia supported the Arab
world in its confrontation with Israel.
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- But post-Soviet Russia shifted its focus towards Israel,
losing much influence among former Middle Eastern allies as a result.
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- Trade volume between Russia and Syria collapsed from
around one billion dollars (euros) in 1992 to just 163 million dollars
last year, Russian officials said.
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- Putin said Wednesday that trade relations had recently
"stabilized" and were headed toward growth in the near future.
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- But Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said after the
talks that the two sides had avoided discussion of a mooted sale to Syria
of Russian portable Igla surface-to-air missiles, which Syria could use
to shoot down Israeli warplanes.
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- Russia made military sales "based on its own assessment
of the situation, not under pressure" ITAR-TASS quoted the Russian
foreign minister as saying.
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- Syria is on the US State Department's list of countries
accused of sponsoring terrorism because of its support for Lebanon's Hezbollah
militia and radical Palestinian groups.
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- Khaddam, one of Syria's two vice presidents, is also
due to meet Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and the speaker of
the lower house of parliament, Gennady Seleznyov, during his three-day
visit to Russia.
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- Khaddam told Putin he hoped Moscow and Damascus could
"calm the international situation," ITAR-TASS reported.
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