Syria and Russia have reached a memorandum of understanding on the future of Russian military bases and other facilities in Syria after 18 months of talks.
According to an international news agency, citing the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Russian bases in Syria’s coastal areas will be reorganised under the agreement.
The deal provides for the Syrian government to take charge of civilian facilities and for Russian military bases to be turned into joint training and qualification centres. It also sets out the future status of Russian facilities at Hmeimim and Tartus.
Under the memorandum, Syria will take charge of facilities designated for civilian use, including Hmeimim Airport and the fourth commercial berth at Tartus port. The move will gradually bring these facilities into the country’s civilian administrative system.
The two sides have also agreed to redefine the role of facilities currently used for military purposes. Russian military bases will be converted into joint training and qualification centres to safeguard the interests of both countries.
According to the ministry, the transition will be completed within a maximum of three months, after which the new arrangements will come into effect.
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