Click to see full-size image. (Syrian Presidential Office)
Moscow has always been guided by the Syrian people’s interests in its relations with Damascus, Russian President Vladimir Putin said while meeting with Syria’s Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa for the first time on October 15.
The meeting came close to a year after rebels led by Sharaa overthrew former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It came amid reports suggesting that the two sides may be close to a deal on the fate of Russian bases in Syria and other important matters.
“Our countries have developed special relations over many decades. We have maintained diplomatic relations for over 80 years, and they were established during the most difficult times for Russia and the Soviet Union, in 1944. During this time, relations between Syria and Russia have always been exceptionally friendly,” Putin said, according to TASS.
“We in Russia have never let our relations with Syria be influenced by our political situation or special interests. Throughout all these decades, we have always been guided by one thing – the interests of the Syrian people,” he added.
From his side, Sharaa emphasized the deep historical ties between the two countries, noting that Syria is entering a new phase in which it seeks to rebuild its political and strategic relations with regional and global powers, mainly, Russia.
“Syria and Russia share a long-standing historical relation, along with bilateral ties and mutual interests in several fields, including Syria’s energy sector, which heavily relies on Russian expertise,” Sharaa said, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
“We respect all past agreements and are working to redefine the nature of these relations in a way that ensures Syria’s independence and national sovereignty,” he added.
The Kremlin said before the meeting that the fate of Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base and its naval facility at the port of Tartus on the Syrian coast would be discussed.
Russia also maintains military presence at Qamishli airport in the northeast of Syria near the borders of Turkey and Iraq, as well, but that part of the country is controlled by Kurdish forces.
Following the meeting, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters that Moscow was willing to work on oil projects in Syria and help it to restore energy, rail and other infrastructure destroyed during years of civil war.
“Our companies are interested in using Russian equipment inside Syria, and this topic was discussed extensively during the meeting between Presidents Putin and Al-Sharaa,” Nocak said, according to SANA.
“Syria needs to rebuild its infrastructure, and Russia is capable of providing support in this area,” he added, noting that Moscow and Damascus agreed to hold a meeting of the Joint Governmental Committee in the near future.
Syria also expressed interest in obtaining Russian wheat and pharmaceuticals, according to the Russian deputy prime minister.
A later report by Reuters, citing Syrian officials, revealed that Sharaa is also hoping that Russia might also help rebuild the Syrian military.
The Syrian president is also expected, according to the news agency, to press for Russia’s backing to resist Israeli demands for a wider demilitarized zone in southern Syria while in Moscow. One of the sources who spoke to the agency even said that Sharaa might also raise the issue of redeploying Russian military police as a guarantor against further Israeli encroachments.
A separate report by Sky News Arabia said that “important agreements are underway between Russia and Syria, covering several issues, including strategic and military ones.”
According to the news channel, which is based in the United Arab Emirates, the agreement is expected to be reached to renew Russia’s contract for the two bases on the Syrian coast, which will play a role in “distributing Russian aid to African countries.”
Contracts will also be signed to arm the Syrian military, with a particular focus on strengthening its air defense capabilities, the channel added.
All of these reports are yet to be confirmed, and while Russia and Syria are clearly heading towards a rapprochement, many issues are still in the way.
Sharaa relied heavily on support from the West to gain legitimacy. Although he seems interested in maintaining Syria’s historic alliance with Russia, his backers in the United States, United Kingdom and other Western countries may simply stand in the way.
In addition, the situation in Syria remains fluid. Kurdish forces, who control most of the northeastern region are yet to be integrated into the new government. In fact, they may be heading towards a battle with the Syrian military, a battle that they could win considering their size, experience, organization and armament.
In the southeast of the country, namely in al-Suwayda, Sharaa faces another challenge, posed by a force of tents of thousands of fighters from the Druze community who want complete autonomy. Israel’s support for this force is reportedly growing. And it can be easily seen how Israel, which vowed to protect the Druze, could easily use the situation in al-Suwayda to kick off a larger intervention in all of southern Syria.
Even on the coast, tensions are mounting over the government’s heavy handed treatment of the Alawite community, which makes up most of the region’s population.
Sharaa could emerge on top of these challenges. In fact, he has already overcome a much worse situation. However, fighting through these issues is not an option. The only way forward would be for him is diplomacy, and power sharing. If not, Syria will remain unstable, and thus an alliance with Russia, or even any Western country would be unattainable.
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i thought american leaders were self serving retards. seems putin is right there with them.
quote “moscow has always been guided by the syrian people’s interests in its relations with damascus,”
pure stupidity.
dumb inferior americunt imho scrub jew toilets swallow hebrew jizz
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putin and his head new chopping buddy.
many inferior americunts feminized tantrum like 9 yr bitches at sf
looks like bashar is about to get handed over
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putin has shamed himself with this meeting.
what.a.shame! russians died fighting this terrorist… for what? putin is yelstin 2.0… wait and see…
makes me want to vomit. all these world leaders shaking hands with this bearded, goat copulating, wahhabi butcher. he no doubt killed russian soldiers as well. he’s butchering christians and alawites and shia and druze and kurds but everyone is shaking his hand and/or kissing his dirty mohammeden ass.
effing headchoppers. if i ever lay my hands on one of them i will give them inquisizione in le catacombe.