Russian Naval Bases Near Completion

Al-Hakika, a Paris-based Syrian opposition newspaper, reported that renovations to two Russian bases in Tartus and Latakia will completed in the next two months.



In the spring of 2006, the Russian navy began renovating and expanding the Soviet-era bases, which were closed in 1991. In exchange, Moscow had agreed the year before to write off 70 per cent of Syria’s debt, estimated at 12 billion US dollars, most of it accrued from arms purchases.



The bases will be home to Russian warships such as the Moskva, which first docked in Syria in February 2006. According to a source, the bases will house 500 technicians providing support for the naval vessels and S-300 surface-to-air missiles.



The SANA news agency reported on March 11 that Defence Minister Hasan Turkmani had met Russian air force commander Alexander Zelin. The following day, the agency said Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov would visit Syria during a regional tour from March 19 to 21.



Lavrov will also visit the Palestinian territories and Israel and is expected to talk to Syrian officials about a projected Middle East peace conference in Moscow. The meeting, which the United States is reported to have proposed, would follow up on the Annapolis peace conference in November.



A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry said Moscow is also discussing the conference with the Palestinians, Israel, Arab League nations, the United States, the United Nations and the European Union.