Russia Hosts Syria's New Foreign Minister for First Time

Since Bashar Assad's Ouster

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MOSCOW: Syria's top diplomat met with Russian officials Thursday on the first visit to Moscow by a member of the new government in Damascus since former Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted in a rebel offensive last year despite years of Russian support.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in the Kremlin, according to Syrian news agency SANA, a meeting that underlined the Kremlin's desire to establish working ties with the country's new leadership.

Before the talks with Putin, al-Shibani met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who emphasized that the Russian authorities "sincerely wish that the Syrian people, with whom we have long-standing friendship, overcome all existing challenges and completely normalize the situation."