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Comrades, good afternoon.

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I sincerely greet all personnel of the Russian forces 

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in Syria on the New Year and Christmas.

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You are celebrating these holidays far away from you families,

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your homes, and your country.

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And it is far away from home that you are defending our country 

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and continuing the fight against terrorism.

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Much has been done over the past year.

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Military police are effective in the Golan Heights, in Palmyra, Aleppo,

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and other important regions of Syria.

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Pilots of the Russian Aerospace Forces conduct reconnaissance 

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and provide air support to the Syrian army.

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Joint operations help eliminate the more dangerous terrorist 

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commanders, which is what the Special Operations Forces 

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have successfully accomplished.

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Off the coast of Syria, the Navy personnel are continuing 

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to successfully defend our national interests in the Mediterranean.

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I have reserved my special thanks for our combat medics.

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They provide medical assistance, carry out surgery,

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save lives under difficult conditions, often at risk to their own lives.

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I thank the commanders and the personnel of the Russian forces 

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in the Syrian Arab Republic for the conscientiousness with 

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which they fulfil their military duty.

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Russia, your families and loved ones, wish you all the best.

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I want to emphasise once again that here in Syria,

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you are not only helping the Syrian people by liberating 

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them from terrorist groups.

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Here, in Syria, you are defending your home country by preventing 

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terrorists from reaching Russia and its neighbouring countries.

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I wish you courage, happiness, and health. Thank you for your service.

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Mr President Vladimir Putin,

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Welcome to our capital, Damascus.

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Commanders of all the tactical units deployed in Syria,

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I am pleased to speak with you via this videoconference,

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especially being next to your Supreme Commander-in-Chief,

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President Putin.

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I would like to extend my Christmas greetings to you and, of course,

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to all the military personnel who are here in Syria on this holy day.