In 2008, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad said that Syria agrees "with the essence of the Russian position" in the Abkhaz conflict.[3] In 2015, the Abkhaz Foreign Minister met Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad in Moscow and afterwards said that his government believes Syria will recognize the former Georgian republic of Abkhazia’s independence as a sovereign country in the future.[4] In November 2016, President of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba stressed his country’s support to Syria in its "war against international terrorism".[5] On the same occasion, Khajimba called Syria a "sisterly country".[6] Nonetheless, Abkhazia supports the re-migration of Syrian citizens of Abkhaz descent back into Abkhazia. In the first five years of the Civil War, about 500 Syrians remigrated to Abkhazia.[7][8][9][10][11] In December 2015, the Foreign Minister of Abkhazia met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Syrian Arab Republic in Russia Mr. Riyad Haddad and they discussed the remigration of Syrian citizens of Abkhaz descent.[12] In December 2016, the first match in Freestyle wrestling between national teams Abkhazia and Syria was held in Sukhum.[13] In August 2017, Abkhazia provided humanitarian aid to Syria.[14] Also in August 2017, an Abkhaz delegation led by Abkhaz Foreign Minister Daur Kove went to Damascus and met with Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis. Parliamentary delegations discussed the strengthening of parliamentary relations between both countries.[15] The same month, Abkhaz products were presented at the Damascus International Fair.[16] In November 2017, a Syrian delegation was in Abkhazia and the Abkhaz minister of economy Adgur Ardzinba, said he was preparing a free trade agreement between Syria and Abkhazia.[17] In December 2017, there were first reports that a Syrian recognition of Abkhaz independence may be possible.[18]