Deputy Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of the Russian Federation, Mr Andrei A. Klimov, stressed that Russia respects Syria's sovereignty and exerts great efforts to strengthen this sovereignty. 'Russia condemned all forms of the illegitimate presence of foreign forces on Syrian territory and denounces the policy of countries that violate the unity principle of these territories, as well UN Charter', Klimov said in a statement to SANSA. Klimov added that Occupied Syrian Golan is part of the Syrian territory and therefore the Israeli occupation must be ended, stressing that Russia will contribute diplomatically and politically to achieving this goal. He did not rule out Syria joining to BRICS group, noting that its recent participation in Vladivostok indicates the rapprochement between BRICS and the Syrian side. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency