MOSCOW, July 22 (Itar-Tass) - Military and political steps have failed to overthrow the Syrian authorities, Syrian Vice-Prime Minister Qadri Jamil said.
The West assumes key responsibility for the sufferings of the Syrian people, Jamil said. “It would be difficult to say what the people’s fate was if friendly countries helped us,” he said.
In the past two years the attempts have been made to overthrow the existing authorities, “but these political and military steps have failed”, the Syrian vice-prime minister stressed.
“We praise Russia’s role in preparing the final communique on the G-8 summit and we praise Russia’s position under which we succeeded in giving up the West points, which are unacceptable for us. Russia’s position is aimed at working out more reasonable and practical approaches,” Jamil said.
The crisis has dragged on and material, human and economic losses increase, the vice-prime minister said.
“Despite the existing difficulties, we’re looking forward to the future with optimism. Today there is an opportunity to discuss cooperation with Russia,” Jamil added.
Damascus believes that “economic cooperation is the base for the political settlement”, he said.