 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that he would honour all existing agreements between Damascus and Moscow, a commitment seen as securing Russia’s key military bases in Syria.
Sharaa, who previously led the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda and ousted longtime Russian ally Bashar al-Assad late last year, made the remarks during his first official visit to Russia since taking power, at the outset of talks held at the Kremlin.
“There are bilateral relations and shared interests that bind us with Russia, and we respect all agreements made with it. We are working on redefining the nature of relations with Russia,” Reuters quoted Sharaa, who was speaking in Arabic, as saying to Putin.
Putin told Sharaa that Moscow was prepared to do everything possible to build on the “many interesting and useful beginnings” previously discussed between the two sides regarding the renewal of bilateral relations.
Oil projects and military bases
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said after the talks that Moscow is prepared to expand cooperation with Syria on oil projects and help rebuild key infrastructure damaged during the country’s protracted civil war.
“The two leaders had discussed this at length,” Reuters Novak told reporters.
“Russian companies have been working in Syria for a long time, at oil fields. There are fields that require development, those that are mothballed, and new fields. We are ready to participate,” he added.
Ahead of the talks, the Kremlin confirmed that the status of Russia’s military installations in Syria would be on the agenda, including the Hmeimim air base in Latakia province and the naval facility at Tartous. Russia also maintains a military presence at Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria near the Turkish and Iraqi borders.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsOn Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow believed the Syrian government wanted the bases to remain operational, noting they could also serve as logistics hubs for delivering aid to Africa.
According to a Syrian source familiar with the discussions, Damascus is seeking assurances that Russia will not support the rearmament of forces loyal to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. The same source said President Sharaa is also hoping Moscow will assist in rebuilding Syria’s army.
Sensitive visit
Sharaa’s visit was sensitive. Russia used its military muscle to back Assad for years against Syrian rebels who came to power in December last year led by Sharaa. Moscow then granted asylum to Assad and his family when they fled the country.
The Assads now live discreetly in Moscow, according to Russian media.
Two Syrian sources told Reuters that Sharaa would use the talks to formally request that Moscow hand over Assad to face trial over alleged crimes against Syrians.
Russia prides itself on being able to protect its foreign allies and was not likely to agree to hand over Assad to Damascus. Lavrov said on Monday that Russia had given Assad refuge because his life had been under threat.
Sharaa, who is hoping to secure economic concessions from Russia, including the resumption of wheat supplies on favourable terms and compensation for war damage, was also expected to press for Moscow’s backing to resist Israeli demands for a wider demilitarised zone in southern Syria.
One of the two sources said he might also raise the issue of redeploying Russian military police as a guarantor against further Israeli encroachments.
With inputs from agencies
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