President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday received Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and the accompanying delegation, discussing with them developments in Syria.

President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday received Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and the accompanying delegation, discussing with them developments in Syria.

During the meeting, President al-Assad voiced appreciation on behalf of himself and the Syrian people for Russia's stances in support of Syria in the face of the vicious attack and takfiri terrorism which is backed by Western, regional and Arab forces, saying that these stances raise hope of drawing a new map for global balance.

For his part, Ryabkov affirmed the firmness of the Russian position on the crisis in Syria based on the need to find a political solution and adhering to international laws that reject the use of force and respect people's right to create their own future.

Ryabkov noted that the Syrian issue has become a priority for Russia and a pivot of world politics, affirming the need to continue deep and practical consultation and coordination between the two countries' leaderships.

The meeting was attended by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, Director of Department for Middle East and North Africa at the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Vershinin, department head Dmitri Dogadkin, director of the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister's office Konstantin Serednyakov, and Russia's Ambassador in Damascus Azmat Kulmuhametov.

Ryabkov met Syrian FM Walid Moallem on Tuesday and asserted the Russian constant support for the peaceful solution, away from the threats of using power.

Ryabkov's visit to Damascus follows the Russian-American agreement to hand over the Syrian chemical weapons to an international control before destructing them during the first six months of 2014.