The US-Russia deal on removing Syrian chemical weapons averted war and is \"a victory for Syria,\" Syrian minister of state for national reconciliation Ali Haidar said Sunday. \"On one hand, it helps the Syrians emerge from the crisis and on the other it has allowed for averting war against Syria...,\" Haidar said in an interview with Russian news agency Ria Novosti. \"It\'s a victory for Syria that was achieved thanks to our Russian friends.\"