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Last update - 03:03 28/08/2008
Diplomat: Russia to up naval presence in Syrian ports
By Reuters
Tags: Israel, navy, Syria, Russia

DAMASCUS - The Russian navy will make more use of Syrian ports as part of increased military presence in the Mediterranean, a Russian diplomat said on Wednesday.

The announcement comes as tensions rise between Moscow and the West over Russia's role in Georgia. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad backed Russia's recent offensive on Georgia in support of a separatist province during a visit to Russia last week.

"Our Navy presence in the Mediterranean will increase," Igor Belyaev, the Russian charge d'affaires, told reporters in the Syrian capital. "Russian vessels will be visiting Syria and other friendly ports more frequently. The visits are continuing."
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Russia relies on Syria's Tartous port as a main stopping point in the Mediterranean, although ties between the two countries have cooled since the collapse of Communism, when Moscow supplied Syria with billions of dollars worth of arms.

Internet news sites have reported that a Russian naval unit, including the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, docked at Tartous earlier this month.

Belyaev would not be drawn on specifics, or whether new military agreements with Syria were reached during Assad's meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a Black Sea resort last Thursday.

"The two leaders gave their directions to advance ties in the economy, trade and energy fields, as well as military cooperation," he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week that Russia was prepared to sell Syria more arms, as long as they do not disturb the "regional balance of power."

Lavrov was referring to the position of Israel, which has a superior military and is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons.

Syria, which is technically at war with Israel, has embarked on a drive to upgrade its military in recent years. The Interfax news agency quoted a Russian diplomat as saying that Syria and Russia were working on deals involving Damascus buying anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems.

The Syrian government has denied reports in Russian media that Assad had said he was ready to host advanced Russian Iskander missiles, which would be able to hit Israeli territory. Israel made it clear it opposes sale of such weapons to Syria.

Diplomats in the Syrian capital said Russia would not easily sell Syria any weapons that could seriously challenge Israel's military superiority.

"It remains to be seen how much the Russians would come through for Syria," one of the diplomats said. "Damascus also does not want to jeopardize its ongoing peace talks with Israel."

Israeli warplanes raided a target in eastern Syria in September. The two countries have since embarked on indirect peace talks.

The United States, Israel's chief ally, said the target was a nuclear complex under construction with the help of North Korea. Syria denied the accusation and said it had no secret nuclear facilities.

Related articles:
  • U.S. to Syria: Do not meddle in Russia-Georgia conflict
  • Russian embrace of Syria tightens, but for what purpose
  • On eve of Assad visit to Moscow, Israel and Russia discuss security
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      1.   Flash-bear spotted in Tartis! 03:28  |  Mark 28/08/08
      2.   Russia to up naval presence in Syrian ports 04:29  |  Iamashamed 28/08/08
      3.   Russians cannot be trusted 04:40  |  Frank 28/08/08
      4.   Russian never has given the arabs high tech weapons 04:44  |  American 28/08/08
      5.   Russia - white/black sea - iran- hormus. 04:59  |  Johnnymac 28/08/08
      6.   Checkmate!Next Iran will roll out welcome mat for the Russians! 05:06  |  lydia 28/08/08
      7.   The Sell of Weapons to Syria Forces IDF Preemptive Strikes 05:19  |  Joseph.E 28/08/08
      8.   Mark, do you even read Haaretz? 05:20  |  BBSNews 28/08/08
      9.   Bad move Israel 05:27  |  Tug 28/08/08
      10.   How to Handle Russie 05:47  |  Art Skell 28/08/08
      11.   The russians have an appaling deck of cards 07:26  |  Kris Lazar 28/08/08
      12.   On the prowl or just slumming in Lattakia and Tartous 07:54  |  Ramius 28/08/08
      13.   Hope the US and Europe realize The cold war never ended. 07:57  |  Dish It Out 28/08/08
      14.   American without a memory 08:03  |  Ramius 28/08/08
      15.   Another Israeli own-goal 08:15  |  Johnboy 28/08/08
      16.   #8: Drop your first B 08:28  |  Ze`ev 28/08/08
      17.   lydia its not checkmate, it`s not even check. 08:28  |  Ramius 28/08/08
      18.   Tug takes a poke at Israel and misses 08:39  |  Ramius 28/08/08
      19.   Joseph E., give it up dude... 08:44  |  BBSNews 28/08/08
      20.   JOHNBOY The presence has been there since the Soviet era 10:21  |  PETER SM 28/08/08
      21.   BS News 8 I am not alone in scoffing at your journalistic pretent 11:42  |  Stephen in New York 28/08/08
      22.   PETER SM, OH PETER SM, CALLING PETER 12:01  |  VIPER 28/08/08
      23.   TUG how did you work that out from this article? 13:34  |  PETER SM 28/08/08
      24.   Russia not after Israel 14:38  |  X-Military 28/08/08
      25.   #20 Yeah, sure, PETER SM 16:05  |  Johnboy 28/08/08
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      29.   mofaz 18:41  |  haim 28/08/08
      30.   #1 Mark 20:12  |  Observer 28/08/08
      31.   where do i lie, BS News? 21:28  |  Stephen in New York 28/08/08
      32.   Calm down a bit. 03:53  |  Magnus Kragset 29/08/08
      33.   Potential alliances in the WW3 23:03  |  David 31/08/08
      34.   lo siento 12:12  |  Di 01/09/08
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