Posted in Midde East, Russia Russia writes off $9.8 billion of Syrian debt Author: puzzleman Published Date: January 26, 2005 Leave a Comment on Russia writes off $9.8 billion of Syrian debt Russia writes off $9.8 billion of Syrian debt Russia on Tuesday agreed to write off a huge chunk of Soviet-era debt held by Syria, a country at the center of Moscow's attempts to revive its influence in the Middle East. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was on his first official visit to Russia, which has long defended the Arab state against U.S. and Israeli… The Daily Star Newspaper - Lebanon Submitted by: puzzleman