Russia finalizing deal on Syria naval base: Lawmaker

The Russian government is about to finalize an agreement on the country’s establishment of a permanent naval base in Syria, a senior lawmaker says.

Viktor Ozerov, the chairman of the Defense and Security Committee at the Federation Council, the Russian parliament’s upper house, made the announcement on Wednesday.

“As far as I know, [it is] at the final stage,” he said concerning the procedure for the document’s preparation, which culminates in signing by the government.

In October, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow planned to establish the base in the western Syrian port city of Tartus, where Russia has been keeping a support and maintenance facility for its naval forces since 1977.

Also on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the country’s successful experience of providing back-up firepower for the Arab country’s forces.

Putin, who was addressing senior military and security officers at the Kremlin, said those in the top echelons of the Russian military had to so employ the experience to “equip the army and the navy with prospective weapons.”