MOSCOW. May 13 (Interfax) - There can be no military solution to the Syria crisis, Russian Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has said.
"Our relations are not limited to a political dialogue based on mutual trust. We are maintaining economic partnership, and we are connected by humanitarian, cultural and human bonds. Russia has always supported the people of Syria in trying times, the times of war and crisis. We have contributed a lot to the construction of the Euphrates Dam and plants in various regions of Syria," Bogdanov told the Syrian news agency SANA in an interview.
Moscow is confident there can be no military solution to the Syria crisis, he stated.
"Damascus and Moscow are exchanging numerous official visits, and our relations are developing well. Syria is living through hard times: the crisis has been on for over four years. We want to help the Syrians overcome these difficulties and start a comprehensive political dialogue as soon as possible because we believe there can be no military solution to the crisis; this is the conviction of the leadership and the people of Russia," Bogdanov said.
He added that Russia was not responsible for the situation in other countries, just for its own.
"We are opposed to attempts to thrust somebody else's political will on the people of Syria. Russia is seeking a solution appropriate for the soonest possible political settlement," he said, answering a question about the position held by the United States and the West in the Syria crisis.