The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received Wednesday a Russian delegation headed by Alexander Lavrentiev, special envoy of President Vladimir Putin.

Lavrentiev is visiting Syria to participate in the joint periodic meeting of the Syrian-Russian coordination committees on the return of refugees, held in Damascus.

الرئيس الأسد يستقبل وفداً روسياً برئاسة ألكسندر لافرنتييف المبعوث الخاص للرئيس فلاديمير بوتين، والذي يزور سورية للمشاركة في أعمال الاجتماع الدوري المشترك للهيئتين التنسيقيتين السورية والروسية حول عودة اللاجئين والمهجرين المنعقد في دمشق. pic.twitter.com/fm2afyYrBC

— Syrian Presidency (@Presidency_Sy) November 17, 2021

During the meeting, President al-Assad said Russia's efforts are embodied through "practical steps to help the Syrian people overcome the repercussions of the terrorist war and the unjust sanctions imposed on it," pointing out to the "firm and principled political stances" of Moscow and its support for the right of Syrians to defend their country and the sovereignty of their lands.

The Syrian president also stressed "the necessity of investing conferences and meetings in work to strengthen relations at the cultural and popular levels, in parallel with strengthening relations between institutions and bodies in the two friendly countries."

In turn, Lavrentiev affirmed that the attempts to create quasi-states inside Syria are unacceptable, and it is necessary for "Israel" not to repeat its attacks on Syria.

He also emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty of the Syrian state.

The head of the Russian delegation noted that the meetings between Russia and Syria will continue at various levels to implement recommendations and agreements signed between the two countries.

Lavrentiev pointed out that "the goal of the joint meetings of the Syrian and Russian coordination committees is not only to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees, but to help improve the situation in Syria and enhance relations between the two friendly countries and peoples."

The two sides stressed the importance of bilateral agreements and praised the positive results achieved on the ground, as a result of their effective work and joint efforts to ensure appropriate conditions for the return of refugees to their cities and villages and to accelerate the pace of national reconciliations.