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Russian senator says Assad is ready for constitutional reform in Syria

Sablin, a member of Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, was in Syria for a humanitarian mission as part of a delegation of Russian parliamentarians on October 23-28

MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Syrian President Bashar Assad has said he is ready to launch political reforms in the country, including a constitutional one, Russian senator Dmitry Sablin said in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper on Wednesday.

Sablin, a member of Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, was in Syria for a humanitarian mission as part of a delegation of Russian parliamentarians on October 23-28.

"Assad said that Syria is a free country and its people have the right to decide themselves how to live, without an intrusion from any side. He said he was ready for political reforms, including a constitutional one. Even if these reforms concern him personally - the presidential elections - he is ready for this. This was a surprise for us and I think for the international community," Sablin said.

The Syrian presidential administration stressed in a statement on Tuesday that implementing any political initiatives in the country would become possible only after the terrorist threat was eliminated.

The delegation of Russian parliamentarians also included State Duma deputies Alexander Yushchenko and Sergey Gavrilov. They met with their Syrian counterparts, and also Syrian Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi and President Assad.

The delegation delivered to Syria around 3 tonnes of humanitarian cargo for children.