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Medvedev vows major Mideast role on Syria visit

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/05/11/108264.html

Assad urges Moscow to help denuclearize the Mideast

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Syria's President Assad (R) chats with his Russian counterpart Medvedev (L) upon his arrival in Damascus

DAMASCUS (Agencies)

President Dmitry Medvedev highlighted Moscow's Cold War ties with Damascus Tuesday as he held a second day of talks with his Syrian counterpart on the first ever visit by a Russian head of state.

"Relations between our people go back many, many years and decades. They have always been friendly and partner-like," the ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Medvedev as saying as he went into the talks with President Bashar al-Assad.

"We have many good and glorious pages," he said, referring to Soviet-era assistance to Syria. "We believe that these ties are our common capital."

Transit role Assad in turn appealed for Russian assistance in developing its oil and gas infrastructure as Syria seeks to restore its role as an important transit route between the Gulf and the Mediterranean. He expressed hope that Russia would support Syria in efforts for a just and comprehensive Middle East peace. "It is a vitally important issue" for Damascus, he said in allusion to Israel's continued occupation of the Golan Heights which it seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in 1981 in a move never recognized by the international community. Medvedev said he would discuss a Middle East settlement with the Syrian leader. "We have always called for it and it will be so in the future," ITAR-Tass quoted him as saying. Medvedev was greeted at the presidential palace on Monday with full pomp and ceremony before going straight into talks with Assad ahead of an official dinner, Syrian state television reported. Medvedev, speaking alongside his host, said he hoped "to develop the political dialogue and economic and cultural cooperation" between the two nations. He voiced confidence "in the capacity of the two countries to resolve international and regional problems."

Denuclearization of Mideast " Syria backs efforts for the non-proliferation of arms and strategic weapons in the Middle East " Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Earlier in an interview with a Syrian daily, Medvedev called Damascus "one of the most important political centers of the Middle East" and urged the two countries to develop economic ties, particularly in the hi-tech sector. Russia seeks to promote itself as a major power in the Middle East and wants to revive ties with old allies with whom relations weakened after the 1991 disintegration of the Soviet Union. Assad for his part urged Moscow to help in efforts to denuclearize the Middle East and hailed the "great efforts undertaken by Russia for the peace process." "Syria backs efforts for the non-proliferation of arms and strategic weapons in the Middle East," Assad said, according to the Sana news agency. Urging Russia to "contribute to help make the Middle East a denuclearized zone," Assad also underscored the need for "a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear program," held in suspicion by the West. Europe and the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear energy program, a charge Tehran denies. Assad rejected any "military adventure (in Iran over its nuclear program) as it will have catastrophic consequences in the region and the whole world." Before leaving Moscow, Medvedev, who is accompanied by a high-powered delegation focused on the military, described Damascus as a key political player in the Middle East.

"Exceptional importance" Medvedev's visit comes shortly after Washington renewed U.S. sanctions on Syria for a year, accusing it of supporting "terrorist" groups. Syrian media have welcomed the visit, with government newspaper Tishrin on Monday hailing Russia's "growing role" in the Middle East, especially in the context of Washington's "failure to protect stability and world peace, because of its flagrant bias" towards Israel. Medvedev's visit "is of exceptional importance," the paper said. Along with the European Union, United Nations and United States, Russia is a member of the international quartet seeking peace in the Middle East and has long lobbied to host a Middle East peace conference. Analysts say Moscow's influence in the Middle East will largely depend on ties with Syria -- a staunch ally of Iran and the Lebanon's Hezbollah group, and where the Palestinian group Hamas has its political headquarters. Moscow has close ties with Hamas which the United States considers a terrorist group, and Medvedev is also expected to discuss sanctions against Iran and US pressure on Syria. "Russia will seek to reduce pressure around Syria," said Alexander Shumilin, head of the Middle East Conflicts Analysis Center at Russia's U.S. and Canada Institute. Syria, one of the few countries to back Russia in its war with Georgia in 2008, is a major purchaser of its arms. Sergei Prikhodko, Medvedev's top foreign policy aide, said military cooperation would be on the agenda during the visit. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/05/10/108169.html

Monday, 10 May 2010

Israel turns to Russia for mediation with Syria

Medvedev calls on Syria to revive partnership

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) as he met Israeli President Shimon Peres in Moscow

MOSCOW (AFP)

President Dmitry Medvedev called on Russia and Syria to reinvigorate their once thriving partnership as he prepared Monday to depart for Damascus on the first visit by a Russian head of state, as Israel's president, Shimon Peres, has sought the help of Russia to ease tensions with Damascus.

"We need to speed up multi-dimensional political dialogue," Medvedev said in an article for the Syrian daily al-Watan released by the Kremlin late Sunday ahead of his two-day visit.

Medvedev called Damascus "one of the most important political centers of the Middle East" and urged the two countries to develop economic ties, particularly in high-tech.

Russia seeks to promote itself as a major power in the Middle East and wants to revive ties with old allies with whom relations weakened after the 1991 disintegration of the Soviet Union. Syria, one of the few countries to back Russia in its war with Georgia in 2008, is a close ally of Moscow's from the Soviet-era and a major purchaser of its arms. Sergei Prikhodko, Medvedev's top foreign policy aide, said military cooperation would be on the agenda during the visit but no agreements would be signed. The Kremlin chief will be accompanied to Damascus by the president of Russia warplane maker Irkut, Oleg Demchenko; the head of Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport, Anatoly Isaikin; and the head of the Federal Agency for Military Cooperation, Mikhail Dmitriyev. With gas giant Gazprom keen to expand its presence in the Arab country, energy will also be a major focus of the talks, Prikhodko said. "Gazprom is ready to consider possible participation in projects to develop Syria's oil and gas industry," he told reporters. "We are ready to consider a possible project to supply natural gas from Syria to Lebanon." Medvedev's visit comes days after Washington renewed U.S. sanctions on Syria for a year, accusing it of supporting "terrorist" groups. A senior source in diplomatic circles said the U.S. sanctions against the country were the subject of talks between Washington and Damascus and that Moscow was not willing to get involved.

Easing tension with Syria Israel's Peres said on Sunday he has turned to Russia to ease tensions with Syria. Peres' office announced Sunday that Russia's president agreed to deliver an Israeli message to Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Peres and Medvedev met in Moscow during the annual commemoration ceremony marking the end of World War II. Peres said Israel wants peace with Syria but that it must stop alleged weapons transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Peres recently accused Syria of transferring Scud missiles to Hezbollah. Syria denies the charge. Israel and Syria are bitter enemies and do not communicate directly. Indirect peace talks broke down after Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza in December 2008.