MOSCOW, August 19 (RIA Novosti) - Syrian President Bashar Assad will visit Russia at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on August 20-21, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
Assad's visit was first announced by the Syrian information ministry early last week.
During his two-day working visit, Assad will meet with Russian authorities to discuss bilateral relations and regional and world developments, in particular the peace process in the Middle East and the situation in Iraq.
Assad last visited Moscow in late 2006.
Syria is a major importer of Russian arms.
Tatneft, one of Russia's top 10 oil producers, is carrying out geological prospecting in Syria and is to drill six exploratory wells in the country under a 2005 contract.
