Syrian government: Russian bases can remain if beneficial

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: Syrian Defense Minister Marhaf Abu Qasra says that Russia's positions regarding the new Syrian government have "improved significantly" after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

 

Abu Qasra, who was interviewed by the Washington Post, also said: "In politics, there are no permanent enemies."

 

In response to another question about whether Damascus would grant Russia the right to maintain its naval bases in Tartus and Latakia, the Syrian Defense Minister continued: "If we obtain concessions that are beneficial to Syria, yes!"

 

The Syrian defense minister raised the possibility of Russian troops on the country's soil while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with Syrian President Abu Muhammad al-Julani during an official visit to Damascus earlier this month.

Following the visit, Reuters reported that al-Julani had called for the extradition of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a conversation with the Russian side.

In an interview with the Washington Post published on Thursday, Murhaf Abu Qasra said that Damascus was forming military and political partnerships with new parties and was trying to bring US-backed Kurdish groups under its command through negotiations.

He went on to note that Damascus was also considering new military agreements with several countries and was in sensitive talks with the US and Turkey about the two countries' military bases on Syrian soil.