Damascus, Aug. 9 (SANA) Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani toured Latakia International Airport and Tartous Port on Sunday following a landmark agreement between Syria and Russia to reorganize Moscow’s presence on the Syrian coast.
The visit came after Syria and Russia reached an agreement to transfer the management of facilities designated for civilian use to the Syrian state and transform Russian military bases into joint training centers.
Earlier Sunday, the Foreign Ministry’s Media and Communications Department told SANA that the agreement followed about 18 months of intensive negotiations led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and settled the future status of Russian facilities at Hmeimim and Tartous.
Under the memorandum, Syria will assume management of civilian facilities, including Hmeimim Airport and the fourth commercial berth at Tartous Port, with both set to be gradually integrated into the country’s civilian administration.
The two sides also agreed to redefine the role of facilities currently used for military purposes, transforming Russian military bases into joint training and qualification centers under arrangements aimed at safeguarding mutual interests.
The memorandum sets a deadline of no more than three months to complete the transition, after which the new arrangements will take effect, according to the ministry.
The ministry described the agreement as the most significant development since negotiations began about a year and a half ago, saying it opens the way for a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations.
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