Ribal Al-Assad, Director of the ODFS, and a delegation of the National Democratic Council of Syria (NDCS) had a meeting with Mr Alexander Kramarenko, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of Russia to the UK. Mr. Kramarenko has a diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. They had a comprehensive discussion about the crisis in Syria and the role that Russia can play in helping to resolve it.

Commenting on the meeting Ribal said:

“We were delighted and honoured to meet with Mr Kramarenko. We had an excellent discussion. Russia is a key player in the Syria crisis. I again welcome Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’ s statement that Russia has no problem with a transition to a new administration in Syria that comes with no bloodshed and foreign interference as that is the only sensible way forward. It is imperative that Russia plays its part in facilitating dialogue with the Syrian regime, which leads to a peaceful, inclusive and democratic transition. We look forward to working with the Russian Government to achieve this. I call on both sides in the Syrian conflict to halt the violence.”