Syria terminates agreement with Russia on the management of the Tartus port
The Syrian authorities have terminated the investment agreement on the management of the seaport of Tartus, which was concluded with Russia in 2019. This was reported by Al Watan TV channel on January 22, citing Riad Judy, director of the customs administration of Tartus province.
"The agreement on investment in the port of Tartous, which was signed with a Russian company, has been canceled. All revenues from the port will be used for the benefit of Syria. The workers of the port will go back to restoring the worn-out equipment that was used by the company without the modernization that was supposed under the terms of the agreement," Judi revealed.
According to the customs director, Syria's transitional government is working to restructure the port in order to resume full operations. In addition, the country's new authorities have reduced customs duties for some categories of goods by 60%. Judy emphasized that the seaport is practically inactive due to high customs duties and prices for logistics services.
Earlier, on January 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a joint press conference with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian that Russia will continue to support Syria in stabilizing the situation in the country, but it is up to Syrians themselves to determine its future.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on December 8, 2024, that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after negotiations with the opposition, left the post of head of state and left the country, instructing to carry out the transfer of power peacefully. Syria's national coalition of revolutionary and opposition forces said it was working to form a transitional authority. The country is expected to hold a referendum.
Later, on December 19, the Russian leader noted during the "Results of the Year" that Russia has generally achieved its goals in Syria. Putin noted that this was confirmed by internal changes even among those factions in Syria that had fought the government of the defunct Assad in the past. As a result, the US and many European countries now want to establish relations with them, the Russian president added.
The situation in Syria escalated as a result of a major attack by armed groups in Aleppo and Idlib, which began on November 28 and led to the Syrian army's retaliation against the militants.
