Russia to lease Syrian port of Tartus for 49 years
Sometime next week, Russia will begin its 49 year lease of the sea port of Tartus in Syria for transport and economic use, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov told reporters on April 20 following a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
In 2017, Russia and Syria signed an agreement on the deployment of a Russian navy logistics support center in Tartus for a term of 49 years. A similar agreement was reached about the RF “Hmeimim” air base in Latakia, Syria.
“The key issue that will set a positive dynamic is the use of the port of Tartus. The trip cemented all these agreements. We are very far along in the process and we hope that within a week the contract will be signed and for 49 years the port of Tartus will be used for Russian business operations,” said Borisov.
According to him, this decision was made at a meeting of the intergovernmental commission in December 2018. Borisov believes that this step will result in a serious mutual trade dynamic.
“I hope that this will benefit, first of all, the Syrian economy,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.