Valentina Matvienko
The Russian authorities do not plan to create new military bases on the territory of foreign States. Such a statement on Monday, January 23, was made by the speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, reports TASS.
“This issue was not discussed, talk about the creation of new military bases of Russia abroad is not,” said the Senator, commenting on the expansion of the territory of item logistics of the Russian Navy in the Syrian port of Tartus.
Speaking about the agreement between Russia and Syria at the base in Tartus, Matvienko noted its importance. According to her, if the state Duma ratifies the document this week, the Federation Council will consider on the 1st of February.
The speaker also recalled that the base in the Syrian port is an important strategic military point, and stressed that the agreement was signed with the legitimate government of Syria. In addition, the fight against international terrorism requires Russian presence in the region, he added.
20 January it became known that between Moscow and Damascus reached an agreement on the extension of the base in Tartus. According to the document, at the same time in the port can be no more than 11 warships of Russia, including ships with nuclear power unit. External security of the coastal borders of Tartus imposed on the Syrian side, the defense object, sea and air — in Russian.
720 point of logistics (e & p) was deployed at the Tartus during 1984. It was used for operations of the 5th operational squadron of the Soviet Navy in the Mediterranean sea. In 1990-e years of e & p in Tartus was not collapsed, however, existed in abbreviated form. In 2009, the Russian defense Ministry announced the expansion of the presence in Tartus.
Tartus is the second largest port city in Syria after Latakia.