Putin and Jolani discuss restructuring Russian bases in Syria
The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abu Mohammed Jolani held a telephone call on Wednesday to discuss plans to reorganize Moscow’s military presence at the Hmeimim and Tartus bases.
According to a Kremlin statement, the two sides stressed in the call the importance of the memorandum signed on August 9 on adjusting Russia’s presence at the Hmeimim air base and the Tartus logistics facility. It was also agreed that contacts would continue at various levels.
The Kremlin said the call also covered the current state of relations between Moscow and Damascus and the prospects for expanding them. The two sides again emphasized deepening political dialogue and cooperation in the commercial, economic and humanitarian sectors.
According to the Kremlin, Putin also reiterated Russia’s support for Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty, and stressed the need to create conditions for long-term stabilization and post-war reconstruction in the country.
This was described as the first official contact between Putin and Jolani since Jolani’s visit to Moscow in January. The Syrian Foreign Ministry had previously said that Moscow and Damascus signed the memorandum on reorganizing Russia’s presence at the two bases in western Syria on August 9, after about 18 months of negotiations.
The Hmeimim air base in Latakia province and the Tartus facility on the Mediterranean coast are among the most important centres of Russia’s military presence in Syria.
