Reply #21: Russian Defense Ministry dismisses Syrian naval base report (June 2006) [View All]

[allemand]

Russian Defense Ministry dismisses Syrian naval base report
18:03 | 02/06/2006

MOSCOW, June 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Defense Ministry categorically denied Friday a media report that Russia had started construction of a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus.

"This is an absolutely false report that has no foundation whatsoever," spokesperson Vyacheslav Sedov said.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060602/48976466.html

Russian Military Denies Seeking Mediterranean Naval Base in Syria
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, MOSCOW

Russian military officials June 2 denied a report that Moscow hopes to create a permanent naval base in Syria that would give it a Mediterranean outpost and represent a major shift in the regional security balance.
(...)

”This can’t be considered information — this is complete nonsense,” said an unnamed admiral quoted by the ITAR-TASS news agency.

”The Russian government hasn’t had and doesn’t have any plans to move the Black Sea fleet from Ukraine. Our fleet is staying in Crimea at least until 2017,” he said.

The agency quoted a “senior defense ministry” official as also denying the report: “One would have to be crazy to leave Ukraine before 2017. So why then sign an agreement?”

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1844520&C=navwar