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Cooperation with Russia is in the interests of Syria, and it is part of the new government’s efforts to build relations with other countries, Interior Minister Ali Kaddah said in an interview with RIA Novosti that was published on February 4.
“Cooperation with Russia is in the interests of Syria and is part of the government’s efforts to build strategic relations with other countries that would contribute to maintaining regional and
international stability,” Kaddah said.
The minister added that relations between Syria and Russia are based on the principle of “respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.”
In addition, he stressed “relations with Russia as a major power with international weight will help protect the interests of the Syrian people in the international arena.”
Speaking about the negotiations on the presence of two Russian bases on the Syrian coast, the naval base in Tartus and the Hemieim air base in Jableh, Kaddah said that they are still ongoing, the results will be announced soon after their completion.
Just a day earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow views contacts between the Russian delegation and Syria’s new leadership as significant and intends to maintain dialogue.
“This is an important trip, important contacts, because it is necessary to build and maintain a constant dialogue with the Syrian authorities, which we are engaged in and will continue to engage in,” he said, according to TASS.
Russian authorities will continue to establish dialogue with the new leadership of Syria, Peskov added.
“We will continue dialogue with the Syrian authorities,” Peskov stressed.
Asked about media reports claiming the Syrian authorities had asked Russia for compensation to restore trust and extradition of former Bashar al-Assad, Peskov said: “I leave this without any comments.”
Last month, a Russian delegation led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev arrived in Damascus, marking the first visit by Russian officials to the country since the fall of the Assad regime.
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Following talks with the Syrian government, Bogdanov described the three-hour meeting as “constructive” and reaffirmed Moscow’s continued support for Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
During the meeting, the Russian delegation emphasized the need to resolve the country’s challenges through an inclusive dialogue involving all political forces, as well as ethnic and religious groups. The parties also discussed the future of Russian military bases in Syria, he said.
Bogdanov stated that the negotiators agreed to continue consultations and, at present, there are no changes in Russia’s military presence in Syria.
Russian forces withdrew from dozens of posts across Syria in the weeks that followed the fall of the Assad regime on December 8. Nevertheless, they are still present and active in Tartus naval base and Hemiem air base.
The Syrian government has shown openness to maintain cooperation with Russia, but the future of the bases on the coast remains in question.
Even if an agreement was reached to keep the bases, the size and shape of Russian forces deployed there will likely change as combat operations in the country appear to be over. Still, Russia could help Syria rebuild its military, which relies heavily on Soviet and Russian equipment, and help it counter terrorist groups like ISIS.
Furthermore, the Russian military presence in the country may be important to counter the growing influence of other foreign forces like Turkey, the United States and Israel. The new government appears to be well aware of this.
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russia doesn’t need tartus. for most of the time they’ve had it, tartus consisted of a warehouse at the end of a jetty with a handful of personnel there. it’s not important. russia should just walk away from it, or use it for humanitarian aid. holding on to it just exposes them to blackmail from erdogan and his pet headchopper-in-a-suit jewlani, or whatever he currently calls himself.
they should just get out, nothing there worth fighting for no real russian interests there just half finished plans that died with the wagner guy.
for years russia held back al-qaeda and isis in syria. while zionists kept picking away at the structure. the us stole the oil to give to israel and gave kickbacks to turkey. and also took the farm land so the syrian people would starve.
russia chose not to over extend itself.
russia’s army is too small to be a super power, that is why they are only a regional power.
they lack the material and will to have super power status
1.5 million is some small army.
where is it? why can’t it respond in kursk?
what is it for if it isn’t allowed to fight?
does it really exits or is only some potemkin dream on paper?
russia doesn’t need a mediterranean port and doesn’t need to give away vast sums of money to african cess pits.
after effing one thing up after another russia doesn’t need to pretend to be a world power.
they can’t even manage situations right on their own border.
negotiating with terrorists, pathetic dishonorable fools… those ports are leased, meaning russia is paying to use them which means russian government, if it proceeds in this shameful direction, will be directly financing terrorists and enemies of humanity.