Putin orders holding talks with Syria on transferring more real estate, water territory to Russia's possession
MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a directive tasking the Defense Ministry, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, with holding negotiations with Syria on transferring more real estate and water territory to the Russian military's possession under an agreement on the stationing of a Russian air group in Syria.
The directive is available on the official online database for legal information.
The directive endorses the Russian government's proposal "on signing protocol No. 1 to the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic on the stationing of an air group of the Russian Armed Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic dated August 26, 2015, concerning the transfer of additional real estate and water territory."
Putin also instructed "the Defense Ministry to hold negotiations with Syria with the Russian Foreign Ministry's involvement and, upon reaching an agreement, sign the aforementioned protocol on Russia's behalf, authorizing it to make amendments to its draft approved by the Russian government, as long as they are not fundamental in nature," it said.
Russia owns the Hmeimim air base and a naval base at the Tartus port in Syria.