Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Russia Muftis Council,  received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) to the Russian Federation, Bashar al-Jaafari.

The meeting was also attended by the first deputy chairman of the RMC Rushan Abbyasov, deputy chairman of the RBMRF and head of the International Department Ildar Galeyev and the staff of the Syrian Embassy.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin welcomed the Ambassador and noted that the Russian people have always treated the Syrian people, their history and culture with deep respect. "The ties between the peoples of our countries have a thousand-year history. The Levant has always been a blessed territory for us. We have always called it al-Sham al-Sharif - the blessed Sham," added the Mufti.

The head of the RBMRF also spoke about the friendship of Russian Muslims with the former Mufti of Syria Dr. Ahmad Hassoun, who participated in the international events organized by the RMC and visited Russia many times.

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin also mentioned the visit of Dr. Muhammad Abdel-Sattar al-Sayyed, Minister of Awqaf of the SAR, when a Memorandum on cooperation in the religious sphere between the RMC and the Ministry of Awqaf of the SAR was signed at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. "We hope that the signed memorandum will contribute to strengthening our brotherly ties for the benefit of our peoples", said the religious leader of Russian Muslims.

He also recalled the role of the late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, who offered the Muslims of the USSR the oportunity to study in Syrian Islamic universities.

"Russian Muslims support the Syrian people and want to be useful to the Syrian Arab Republic and its people as much as possible", said the religious leader of Russian Muslims, mentioning the humanitarian and charity projects of the RMC and the Charitable Foundation "Zakyat" in Syria and neighboring countries.

"Our mutual contacts are developing not only at the official level, but also at the level of human relations," stressed Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. He mentioned the international exhibition "Islamic traditions in Russia" recently held in Malaysia and expressed a hope that this exhibition will take place it in the near future in Damascus with the direct support of Mr Ambassador at the Al Assad National Library.

According to Mr Bashar al-Jaafari, the relations between the two countries are developing in a positive way. "We are grateful for all the help provided," he said.

The diplomat concluded the meeting by inviting the religious leader of Russian Muslims to visit Damascus.