Russian official to hold talks with Syria’s Assad
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin are scheduled to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, according to the official Russian news agency.
The visit of the Russian diplomat to Damascus follows the meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of Russia, Syria, Iran and Turkey within Astana Talks format last week.
Between June 20 and 21, the so-called ‘Astana process’ held its 20th session. Among the central issues has been the attempt to harmonize the interests of the Turkish and Syrian governments.
The Russian agency, RIA Novosti, quoted a source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry as saying that Vershinin would hold talks with al-Assad during his visit to Damascus.
It added that the Russian official will meet, during the visit, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad.
The Agency did not mention more details about issues that will be discussed during the meetings or their dates.
The visit coincides with a Russian military escalation in northwestern Syria.
Yesterday, Sunday, the Russian warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the outskirts of the city of Idlib, and the city of Jisr al-Shughur, Mount Arbaeen, Bazabur, and Binin in al-Zawiya Mountain, and the outskirts of the town of al-Kabina, north of Latakia.