Russian defense minister meets al-Assad in Syria

MOSCOW, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu paid a working visit to Syria under instruction of President Vladimir Putin and held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday.

Shoigu delivered a message from Putin to al-Assad, and they discussed fighting international terrorism in Syria, various aspects of security in the Middle East and post-conflict settlement, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a press release.

They exchanged views on expanding the possibilities for the voluntary return of refugees and temporarily displaced persons to their places of residence in Syria, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.

Syria with the support of Russia achieved significant success in the fight against international terrorism, and they saved the Syrian state and created conditions for the return of citizens to a peaceful life, Shoigu told al-Assad.

"However, not everyone is satisfied with the successes of the Syrian government in restoring a peaceful life. Western countries are trying to minimize any positive changes in Syria and create new obstacles to ending the crisis," Shoigu said. Enditem