MOSCOW, June 16 (RAPSI) – Syria will initiate the procedure of recognition of sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), the DPR Government informs on its official Telegram channel.

According to the statement, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad congratulated the DPR delegation on the сleaning up the most part of the republic and said that he would order the Foreign Ministry to start the recognition procedure.

The Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in turn stated that the procedure would be initiated immediately.

On June 14, the news broke that the Syrian Arab Republic plans to recognize the independence of DPR and LPR.

Russia recognized the republics’ sovereignty on February 21 after a decree was signed by President Vladimir Putin.

Syria supports the decision of Russia to recognise two breakaway regions, Syrian state TV quoted the Syrian foreign minister as saying in February. "Syria supports President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the republics of Lugansk and Donetsk," the state TV quoted Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as saying.