Putin submits deal on Syrian naval base to parliament
Xinhua,December 13, 2017 Adjust font size:
MOSCOW, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted to the lower house of parliament an agreement with Syria, under which Damascus will allow Moscow to keep its naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartus for at least 49 years.
The document posted on the website of the Russian State Duma on Wednesday states that the deal may be automatically extended every 25 years after its expiry.
Under the deal, which was signed on Jan. 18, Russia and Syria agreed to expand and overhaul the maintenance infrastructure in Tartus, which was established in 1977 and is currently Russia's sole naval support facility in the Mediterranean region.
The deal allows Russia to deploy up to 11 warships, including nuclear-powered combat vessels, to the Syrian port.
The State Duma is expected to ratify the deal later this month.
After claiming a victory against the Islamic State, Putin announced on Monday that Russia would pull most of its troops out of Syria, but would maintain the Tartus facility and the Hmeymim airbase in the war-torn country. Enditem