Assad rents Tartous port for Russians

ARK News: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with senior officials from Russia, Damascus's strongest ally, to discuss the next round of peace talks, the rent of Tartous port and the trade between the two countries, official Syrian media reported.

Russia has helped Assad regain the re-control of most of the country, but the ongoing war since 8 years has been still continuing, where areas in the north-east and northwest of the country still out of control and sanctions and fuel shortages hamper economic activities.

Moscow is pushing for a political process, including talks on drafting a new constitution and holding elections as a way to end the conflict, but Assad has played down the possibility of opposition participation in the process.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Assad met with Russia's special envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Verchinen and several officials of the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russia is expected to sign a contract to lease Tartous port from Syria soon, the TAS news agency quoted Borisov as saying.

The Russian parliament ratified in 2017 an agreement with Damascus to consolidate the presence of Russia in Syria and to pave the way for a permanent military presence in air and sea bases there.

It was also agreed that Russia would expand and modernize the port's capabilities to provide services and facilities for its fleet.

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