Members of Russia’s upper house to visit Syria

A delegation of Russia’s Federation Council, headed by Deputy Speaker Ilyas Umakhanov, will arrive in Damascus for talks with the Syrian leadership on Saturday. The Russian embassy in Syria told Russian News Agency (Itar-Tass) that the delegation is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s political adviser Bouthaina Shaaban on Saturday evening. On Sunday, the Russian envoys will be received by the Syrian President. In addition, on the same day, there will be meetings with the chairman of the National Council (Parliament) of Syria Mahmoud al-Abrash, representatives of the parliamentary Friendship Society and the supreme mufti of Syria Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun. On Monday the Russian delegation will meet with Metropolitan Luke, as well as a representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East Ignatius IV. In addition, the members of Russia’s Federation Council are going to visit the troubled areas of the country and get acquainted with the situation on site, Itar-Tass added.