The working conditions and maintenance of Russian military bases in Syria could be a topic of negotiations with the new authorities of the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Sputnik.
"Undoubtedly, the change of power that has taken place and the change in the state of affairs on the ground are making certain adjustments regarding the Russian military presence in Syria. It is not only about preserving our bases or strongholds, but also about the conditions of their operation, maintenance and provision, and interaction with the local side. These topics could be the subject of negotiations with the new Syrian leadership," Lavrov said.
Moscow is not aware of the revision by the new Syrian authorities of the agreements on Russian military bases in the country, and there have been no requests from Damascus about this, the top diplomat noted.
"Syria is a sovereign country that has the right to conclude and terminate contracts with foreign partners... At the same time, we are not aware of the work carried out by its new authorities on the inventory of such acts and their revision. The Russian side has not received any appeals in this regard," he said, adding that this makes sense since a "transitional period" has been declared in Syria until March 1, 2025.
The deployment of Russian bases in Syria is provided for by existing international treaties concluded in accordance with international law, the minister said.
"Each of them defines the conditions for the operation of these facilities and contains certain obligations of both sides," the minister concluded.