Posted on 04/17/2010 2:21:14 PM PDT by kronos77
Officials said the navies of Russia and Syria were enhancing cooperation over the last year. They said Moscow was modernizing naval facilities in Syria's port of Latakia and Tartous to accommodate Russian Navy warships.
"I am certain that we will witness new and significant progress in our bilateral cooperation in the near future," Russian ambassador to Syria, Sergei Kirpichenko, said.
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On April 14, Kirpichenko welcomed the arrival of the Russian Navy's nuclear-powered missile cruiser, Pyotr Veliky, to Tartous. Russia has modernized Tartous and deploys 50 naval officers to maintain and supply warships that operate in the Mediterranean.
"The Pyotr Veliky's visit to the Syrian port of Tartus is a symbolic event," Kirpichenko said. "It is a continuation of our historic ties with Syria that serves as a guarantee of our future cooperation not only in the naval sphere but also in other areas."
Officials said a large Syrian Navy delegation visited Pyotr Veliky. Pyotr Veliky has been deemed the flagship of Russia's Northern Fleet and was headed for an exercise in the Indian Ocan.
In September 2008, the Kremlin launched negotiations with the regime of President Bashar Assad to convert Tartous into a permanent Russian Navy base. Officials said Moscow also offered to modernize the Syrian Navy port at Latakia.
Tartous was said to have been expanded to accommodate large Russian warships. Officials said Tartous, with three berthing floats, could handle up to a dozen naval vessels.
Officials said the Russian Navy regards Syria as a vital base for operations in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions. They said Moscow has been training the Syrian Navy as part of the strategic arrangement.
"According to the Russian Navy, the naval base in Syria significantly boosts Russia's operational capability in the region because the warships based there are capable of reaching the Red Sea through the Suez Canal and the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar in a matter of days," the Moscow-based RIA Novosti news agency said.
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.
“The Pyotr Veliky’s visit to the Syrian port of Tartus is a symbolic event. It is a continuation of our historic ties with Syria that serves as a guarantee of our future cooperation not only in the naval sphere but also in other areas,” Kirpichenko said.
“I am certain that we will witness new and significant progress in our bilateral cooperation in the near future,” he added.
Pyotr Veliky, the flagship of Russia’s Northern Fleet, left the fleet’s headquarters in Severomorsk on March 31 to join the warships of other Russian fleets, including the Moskva missile cruiser, in the Indian Ocean for large-scale naval exercises.
A naval maintenance site near the port of Tartus is the only Russian foothold in the Mediterranean.
About 50 naval personnel and three berthing floats are currently deployed at the Tartus site, which can accommodate up to a dozen warships.
According to the Russian Navy, the naval base in Syria significantly boosts Russia’s operational capability in the region because the warships based there are capable of reaching the Red Sea through the Suez Canal and the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar in a matter of days.
In September 2008, Russia was reported to be in talks with Syria about turning Tartus into a permanent base for Russian warships in the Middle East.
TARTUS (Syria), April 14 (RIA Novosti)
The Moskva missile cruiser has passed through the Suez Canal and entered the Indian Ocean to join other Russian warships for large-scale naval exercises, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.
The flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, which has a compliment of naval infantry on board, left the Black Sea port of Sevastopol on April 9.
“The weapons and technical equipment on the ship are functioning properly and the crew is healthy,” the spokesman said.
The Moskva is a Slava-class missile cruiser designed as a surface strike ship with some anti-aircraft and ASW capability.
Meanwhile, the Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser from Russia’s Northern Fleet has recently arrived in Syria’s Mediterranean port of Tartus ahead of Russian Navy drills in the Indian Ocean.
Russia announced in 2007 that it was building up its naval presence in the world’s oceans. Once one the world’s most powerful navies, Russia now has few ships regularly deployed.
A Russian Pacific Fleet task force, comprising an Udaloy class missile destroyer, Marshal Shaposhnikov, a salvage tug and a tanker, is currently on an anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast.
Yup, Old Vlad Putin has got President Punk Ass figured out. The Russian bear is looking to roam around the Mid-East and start scoping out new territory . He knows Obama isn’t going to do anything about it.
Czar finally has warm water port somewhere near civilization. And tovarich, the only ice is in the reefer, if is working!
Gog and Magog, moving along nicely on the final plan
Da tovarichi! Is now to having glorious warm water port for Russian Navy submarine boats!
Only problem is liberty in Mooslim port. All burkas, no bars. No fun.
Da tovarichi! Is no fun to having in Mooslim port. Cuba, now here is place for to having fun, da! Girls, rum!
Also sun! Not to mention good medical. Congresslady Waters say so.
Now with Syria base, Suez Canal, and many ships of iron, we can rush coal to Vladisvostok in only 3 months. Let nasty Japanese heathens try to insult Czar and the Rodina now!
Da! Now we are to having glorious workers paradise!
Da torvarichi! And with many ships of coal we are to having much heat in vinter time, no more to having put cow in house and babuska outside in snow!
I discuss only naval matters, tovarich. Not navel matters. That is why Rasputin says I am to be Admiral. I will be ski-jumping on new carrier, while you chase babushka in snow.
If only we had Syria base in 1905!
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