Russia said that President Bashar al-Assad’s speech drove home a message about the necessity of a ripening national cohesion that serves the country’s interests, rebuilding and a continuation of anti-terrorism efforts at this critical juncture of Syria’s history.

Commenting on the speech that President al-Assad delivered on Wednesday after taking the oath for a new term in office, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it is “exceptionally important”, amid the current conditions in Syria, to keep state institutions functioning for the sake of having humanitarian situation improved which, according to the ministry, was confirmed by President al-Assad’s inauguration ceremonies.

The statement added that the political and military situation in Syria remains tense amid “multiplying terrorist brutal crimes, peaceful people getting killed and social and economic infrastructures destroyed.”

“In this context, developments have been happening in terms of the government’s stances for solving the humanitarian issues of crisis-hit citizens, broadening a scope of national reconciliations and an amnesty decree still in effect,” added the statement.

In remarks about the Syrian government’s humanitarian efforts, the ministry said the government has managed, in collaboration with international agencies, to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to al-Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus.

It also cited an ongoing operation to deliver aid to al-Mohaddamiyah area which received on July 14 some 1,000 food baskets as a first batch of aid.