Russian Navy to operate from Syria
For first time since fall of Iron Curtain, Russia plans to build permanent
bases on Syrian soil as part of large arms deal between two countries.
Defense establishment officials fear Russian ships may try to spy on
Israel's weapon systems
Aryeh Egozi, Alex Fishman YNET Published: 08.06.07, 09:07 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3434145,00.html

For the first time since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Russia plans to
re-operate the Tartus and Latakia ports in Syria as permanent bases for the
Russian Navy in the Mediterranean basin, according to recent western media
reports.

Rumors on the growing Russian activity in the Mediterranean began spreading
following a statement by Russian Navy commander, Admiral Vladimir Masorin,
as he visited the Russian Navy base in the Sebastopol port in Ukraine.

"Being present in the Mediterranean is very important for our Navy in the
Black Sea," the admiral said.

The Qatar-based television network al-Jazeera quoted a senior Russian
Defense Ministry official over the weekend, who declared that Russia must be
permanently present in the Mediterranean again.

According to the reports, Syria plans to let Russia use its ports as part of
the large arms deal signed between the two countries in the past year.

The breakthrough which led to the arms deal was made possible after the two
parties resolved their financial differences.

Over the years, Syria had accumulated a huge debt of approximately $11
billion to Russia. The Russians recently conceded more than 70% of the debt.
The remaining debt will be returned by Syria partly in cash and partly
through permanent port services to the Russian Navy ships in Latkia and
Tartus.

Israeli security officials estimated that the renewed Russian activity in
these bases, which were active throughout the Cold War, was related to the
renewed tensions between Russia and the United States, mainly in light of
the American plan to station antimissile missile systems in Europe - a plan
Moscow views as a threat to its security.

"The bases will allow Russia to protect its interests in the region," the
sources estimated.

While US naval forces are permanently present in the Mediterranean, Russian
Navy ships have so far settled for exercises and friendly visits to
different countries in the region.

Since the Soviet Union's disintegration the Russian Navy has been
experiencing a crisis, but in the past two years efforts have been made to
rehabilitate the warships and the submarines.

The Russian Navy is known to massively operate spy ships.

Israeli officials estimated on Sunday that a renewed base in Syria will help
the Russians carry out spy missions also against Israel, particularly
electronic spying aimed at observing new weapon systems and the flow of
information in channels used by the army and the defense establishment.