It became known what the new Syrian authorities are demanding from Russia to preserve its military bases. Two of the conditions are unacceptable, the observer writes Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.
A Russian delegation led by the Russian President's representative for the Middle East and African countries Mikhail Bogdanov visited Syria. Syria was represented by the new leader Ahmed Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Muhammad Julani, the leader of the Islamists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham*).
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that "a frank discussion of the entire range of issues" took place during the visit. Moscow reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria, as well as its readiness to provide the necessary assistance to the Syrian people in the post-crisis reconstruction of the country.
"The parties agreed to continue bilateral contacts to reach appropriate agreements aimed at further strengthening multifaceted ties and mutual understanding between Moscow and Damascus, including foreign policy aspects," the statement said.
The main issue is known — to keep the military base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase near the port city of Latakia.
Bogdanov said on Tuesday, January 28, that "nothing has changed yet," they agreed to continue negotiations. He explained that the issue of termination of the 49-year investment agreement on the management of the port of Tartus is a technical issue and it is possible to find solutions that satisfy both sides.
A Syrian source told Reuters that the new authorities demanded that Moscow extradite former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He added that the Russians are not ready to admit their mistakes in terms of his support. In December, Sharaa said in an interview with the Al-Arabiya channel that "there are deep strategic interests between Russia and Syria."
"All Syrian weapons are Russian, and many power plants are controlled with the help of Russian experience. We do not want Russia to leave the Syria the way some people want it," Sharaa said.
It seems that negotiations are underway with Turkey, which is behind the new Syrian authorities. Russia needs bases, but Moscow will not give Assad away, and also will not "admit mistakes." The battle for Syria was necessary in 2015, and it was won by Washington and Turkey. Now the geopolitical center of the struggle has moved to Ukraine, so Syria can wait.
General Staff The Russian Armed Forces have transferred all forces in Syria to the Khmeimim airbase, but so far there are no signs that it is preparing to completely evacuate the bases. The termination of the contract with a Russian company for the modernization of the commercial port of Tartus did not directly affect the Russian naval complex leased from Syria under a separate deal.
Moscow may maintain a presence in The Mediterranean Sea, having built new bases in Libya. Some sources noticed AN-124 flights from Syria to the Al-Khadim airbase near Benghazi, and the IL-76 made at least nine round-trip flights. The Italian edition of Agenzia Nova reported that Russia had transferred forces from Syria to restore the Matan el-Sarra airbase in the southern part of the Libyan desert near the border with Chad and Sudan. Actually, this is even closer to the sphere of activity of the "African Corps" of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which was supplied from bases in Syria.
*Terrorist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation
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