Russia foreign minister calls for Libya ceasefire during first Syria visit since 2012

Sergey Lavrov’s visit comes as Syria faces severe economic crisis and worsening outbreak of Covid-19

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, left, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, centre, during their meeting in Damascus on September 7. AFP

Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya and said Moscow wanted the conflict to be resolved through dialogue.

Mr Lavrov met Syrian President Bashar Al Assad shortly after landing in Damascus on his first visit since 2012.

Russia has been a close ally of Mr Al Assad in Syria’s devastating nine-year civil war, lending his government vital military, economic and political support.

Russian troops have been fighting alongside Syrian government forces since 2015, and President Vladimir Putin has visited the war-torn country twice, including in January this year.

Mr Lavrov's visit comes amid a severe economic crisis in Syria and the coronavirus pandemic.

The Syrian pro-government Al Watan newspaper reported that a high-ranking Russian delegation, led by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, arrived in Syria on Sunday.

A briefing was to be held by Mr Lavrov and Syria’s Foreign Minister, Walid Al Muallem, later on Monday.

Syria’s ambassador to Russia, Riad Haddad, said the Russian delegation’s visit was “of special importance, given the political and economic files that will be discussed”.

Mr Haddad said the agenda included progress by a committee discussing possible amendments to the Syrian constitution, western sanctions on Damascus and the fight against terrorism.

Talks between delegates from the government, opposition and society resumed in Geneva late last month, with the sides discussing a possible new constitution for the country.

The UN’s envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called the talks a prospective “door-opener” to a final resolution of Syria’s long-running conflict.

The pandemic forced a meeting in March to be postponed.