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Russia establishing permanent presence at its Syrian bases

December 26, 2017 at 3:02 pm

Russia has started establishing a permanent military presence at naval and air bases in Syria, the defence minister said on Tuesday as parliament ratified a deal with Damascuslast week to cement Russian presence in the country, the RIA news agency reported.

The deal, signed on 18 January 2017 will expand the Tartus naval facility, Russia’s only naval foothold in the Mediterranean, and grant Russian warships access to Syrian waters and ports, Viktor Bondarev, head of the upper house security and defence committee, told RIA.

RIA news agency separately quoted Sergei Shoigu as saying: “Last week the Commander-in-Chief (President Vladimir Putin) approved the structure and the bases in Tartus and in Khmeimim [air base]. We have begun forming a permanent presence there.”

The Tartus naval facility, in use since the says of the Soviet Union, is too small to play host to larger warships.

Read: Russia troops to withdraw from Syria

According to the RIA report, the agreement will allow Russia to keep 11 warships at Tartus, including nuclear vessels. The agreement will last for 49 years and could be prolonged further.

The base will have full immunity from any Syrian civil, administrative or legal jurisdiction. Moreover, the Russian movable and immovable property will also enjoy full immunity from any inspection, seizures or other measures. Under the agreement, naval personnel, as well as their relatives will enjoy full immunity and privileges similar to those granted to diplomats.

Syria will protect the naval facility while Russia will secure maritime borders and missile security.

The Khmeimim Air Base, from which Russia has launched numerous air strikes in support of President Bashar Al-Assad during his war with rebels, can now be used by Russia indefinitely, according to the deal.

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