DUBAI, December 27. /TASS/. The new Syrian authorities do not plan to terminate the agreements under which Russia uses military bases in Latakia and Tartus provinces in the near future, a source close to the discussions on the preservation of Russian facilities in Syria told TASS.
According to the source, the parties are holding negotiations to ensure that circumstances of force majeure, including military actions and regime changes in the republic, do not become a pretext for canceling the agreements. The source noted that the parties are also discussing the size of the Russian contingent.
"Russia seeks to preserve the legal status of its bases. The negotiations focus on ensuring that military action and regime change are not considered force majeure and grounds for revoking agreements on the long-term lease of facilities in Tartus and Latakia provinces. The Syrian side does not intend to terminate the agreements until the negotiations are concluded," the source said.
On December 9, a TASS source said that Russia has commenced the negotiations with the new Syrian authorities on the continued presence of its military bases. According to the source, the new Syrian authorities guaranteed the security of Russian military bases during the negotiations.
In late November, opposition militias started a large-scale assault on the positions of the Syrian Army in Idlib and Aleppo provinces. On December 8, they entered Damascus, after which the government forces withdrew from the city. Bashar Assad abandoned his presidential office and left Syria.
The Russian military bases in Syria
"Russia operates two military facilities in Syria - the Russian Navy maintenance base in the port city of Tartus, and the Hmeimim Air Base, situated in Jableh, Latakia. The Tartus base was established in 1971 through a bilateral agreement. The Russian Aerospace group in Syria was formed on September 30, 2015, to assist the Syrian Army in its fight against the Islamic State terror group (banned in Russia).
Earlier, Russian Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, stated that Moscow has established direct communications with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, banned in Russia) political committee. The diplomat added that Russia anticipates the continued preservation of its military bases."
On December 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow proposed to use its military bases for deliveries of humanitarian aid to Syria.