Russian Lawmakers to Deliberate 49-Year Syria Naval Base Agreement Within Month

(sputnik)- A 49-year agreement between Russia and Syria on a Russian naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus is likely to be submitted to lower house lawmakers within a month, a Russian parliamentary source told RIA Novosti on Monday.

Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov disclosed plans last week to set up a permanent base in the Eastern Mediterranean seaport.

Tartus hosted the Russian Navy maintenance and support facility since 1977. Currently, the Tartus facility is the Russian Navy’s only support base in the Mediterranean Sea. It continues to perform its designated mission. The Tartus facility is currently manned exclusively by civilians.

Russia's lower house of parliament ratified on October 7 an agreement with Syria that authorizes the deployment of a Russian air group at the Hmeimim airbase for an indefinite period of time.Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov disclosed plans last week to set up a permanent base in the Eastern Mediterranean seaport.