Lavrov: Russian bases in Hmeymim, Tartus enough to conduct anti-terror op in Syria

Russia’s military bases in Hmeymim and Tartus are enough to conduct counterterrorist operation in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a joint press conference Monday with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides, who is paying a visit to Moscow, TASS reported.

 

"The location of our bases in Hmeymim and Tartus is rather favorable, so we can ensure the necessary parameters of the counterterrorist operation conducted at the request of the Syrian government," the minister said.

 

Ioannis Kasoulides said after talks with his Russian counterpart that Moscow and Nicosia did not discuss the issue on deploying Russian military bases to Cyprus.

 

"You say that the issue on Russian military bases has been widely discussed in mass media," the minister said. "I’m afraid it was discussed only in mass media, I don’t think this was discussed by the representatives of government circles."

 

"Real life showed that Russia can come to Syria without any bases," Kasoulides said, answering a question how Cyprus could help Russia in the fight against international terrorism taking into account its geographic location.

 

Lavrov confirmed that the issue was not discussed. "We have discussed nothing of the kind. In principle, the vessels of the Russian Navy use the ports of Cyprus, but without any special services," Lavrov said. "I don’t remember that this issue has been ever discussed between the Republic of Cyprus and us."

 

Lavrov went on to say that Russia’s military bases in Hmeymim and Tartus are enough to conduct counterterrorist operation in Syria