Best to get the ports before the Russians establish their naval bases there...they are hurrying.
Interesting timing . . .
20:0414/04/2010
Russia’s nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky has arrived in Syria’s Mediterranean port of Tartus ahead of Russian Navy drills in the Indian Ocean.
A large Syrian naval delegation accompanied by Russia’s ambassador to Syria, Sergei Kirpichenko, visited the Russian warship on Wednesday.
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100414/158581904.html