Putin Signs Russian Airbase Deal with Syrian Gov’t
Local Editor
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law ratifying deal with the Syrian government allowing his country to keep its air base in Syria for almost half a century, official documents showed.
The original deal, signed in Damascus in January, sets out the terms under which Russia can use its Hmeimim air base in Latakia which it has used to carry out airstrikes against terrorists in Syria.
Putin approved the agreement late Wednesday, after the two chambers of the Russian Parliament backed it earlier this month, according to the state's official information portal.
The document said Russian forces will be deployed at the Hmeimim base for 49 years with the option of extending that arrangement for 25-year periods.
The base has been at the heart of Moscow's military foray since it intervened in the conflict in September 2015.
Separately, Putin affirmed on Thursday that his country believes that the most important thing in Syria is stopping bloodshed and ensuring conditions for political resolution.
"I can say right now that we believe that stopping bloodshed and ensuring necessary conditions for political solution are the most important things now," Putin said in a press conference with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto.
"After that the Syrians will make a decision through a wide dialogue under the UN auspices and on the basis of the UN Security Council's Resolution 2254 what kind of country they will live in," he added.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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