OpEdNews Op Eds 12/24/2017 at 02:17:30
Apparently, in a reconfiguration of positions in the
geopolitics, Turkey, a NATO member, has signed a $2 billion deal to buy the
S-400 Russian air-defense missile system while Russian Duma voted on Thursday
(Dec. 21) to extend Russia's lease of a naval base in Syria for 49 years.
Vladimir Kozhin, a presidential aide who oversees
Russia's matters of military cooperation, said Thursday that the deal was now
finalized and Moscow would begin delivery of the system to Ankara in late 2019.
"The first deliveries are likely to begin at the end of 2019, beginning of
2020," according to Kozhin.
He said no more issues remained about the deal, which was
discussed between Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart
Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the former's visit to Ankara on December 11.
Russian missile system
S-400, acronym for the Triumf Mobile Multiple
Anti-Aircraft Missile System (AAMS), is an advanced Russian missile system
designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as
402 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.
"All aspects have been resolved over the past few
days ... All parameters, all technologies, the entire deal has been agreed ...
Practically speaking, the contract is entering the phase of realization,"
Kozhin said.
The official added that Russia would grant a credit to
Turkey to help finance the deal.
"The contract will consist of two parts financially:
part of it will be paid by Turkey and part through a credit provided by
Russia," Kozhin said about the agreement, which has been valued at about
$2 billion.
The deal comes as Turkey has been establishing closer
relations with Russia after its relations soured with Western governments
following a crackdown on people linked to Fethullah Terrorist
Organization (FETO) allegedly behind the July 2016 failed coup to
overthrow the Erdogan government.
Russia returns lost positions by expanding
Navy base in Syria
Russia returns lost positions and ensures presence in the
Middle East by expanding the naval base in Syria's Tartus port, Andrey Krasov,
first deputy chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee, told the Russian
news agency TASS.
"Russia needs this base to be present in this region," Krasov said, reminding that Syria has always been the strategic partner of Russia and USSR. "Unlike NATO, the Russian Federation is the guarantor of security in the world," he asserted.
"In Syria, we fight against international terrorism
not only by words, but also by deeds. Both Russian Aerospace Defense Forces and
Russian Navy's ship groups demonstrate their professionalism, high
qualifications in supporting the Syrian Armed Forces in the fight against
terrorism," he noted.
"When in the 1990s we did not hold any drills and
closed our bases one by one "- in Cam Ranh (Vietnam), in Cuba "- no
one cared about this, everybody was clapping their hands," Krasov said.
"And now, when we rose from our knees, when we
started to actively train our forces - and we are doing this on our own
territory - our defense-industrial companies produce the most modern weapons,
and no other army in the world has such equipment and such weapons - this
worries someone," he said.
"We are worried, however, that NATO is approaching
our borders. We do not get closer to anybody, but by these actions, we are
returning the positions lost earlier, we are returning our presence in this
region," he stressed.
Moscow cements deal with Damascus
It was reported in January this year that Russia and
Syria have signed an agreement on expanding the territory of the Russian Navy's
logistics facility in Tartus for 49 years. The document was published on the
official legal information portal, according to Tass.
"The current agreement will stay effective for 49
years and be automatically prolonged for 25-year periods, if neither party
makes a twelve months' notice in writing through diplomatic channels of its
intention to terminate the agreement's operation," the document said.
"The logistic facility shall enjoy full immunity
from the civil and administrative jurisdiction of Syria. Its movable and
immovable property enjoys immunity from search, requisition, arrest or
executory measures," the document states.
The facility's personnel, including its commander,
personnel and crews and their members will enjoy immunity and privileges. They
are guaranteed the inviolability of the person.
"They shall not be subject to arrest or detention in
whatever form by the Syrian authorities. The personnel of the facility, the
families of personnel and of crewmembers are guaranteed the inviolability of
the home, documents, property and correspondence," the agreement states.
Russian airbase in Syria
Russia and Syria have signed an agreement for 49 years on
the presence of Russia's aerospace group at Syria's Hmeymim base. The document
was also published on the legal information portal.
Under the arrangement Syria will let Russia use part of
the Hmeymim airdrome and ground facilities.
"Perimeter protection of places of deployment of the
Russian aerospace group is ensured by the Syrian side. The Russian side ensures
air defense of places of deployment of the Russian aerospace group, interior
guard and law and order at places of deployment of the Russian aerospace
group," the document says.
Like the Naval agreement, the Russia-Syria agreement on
the presence of Russia's aerospace group at Syria's Hmeymim base will operate
for 49 years and will be prolonged for subsequent 25-year periods, if neither
party makes a twelve months' notice in writing through diplomatic channels of
its intention to terminate its operation.
Original post: opednews.com
Related articles:
Purchase
of Russian S-400 system creates issues for Turkey’s use of F-35 – top US Air
Force official
S-400 Triumph (SA-21Growler): Details
No comments:
Post a Comment