Damascus, Aug. 10 -- Syria and Russia have reached an agreement on the future of two strategic Mediterranean coastal bases, paving the way for an end to their use as Russian military outposts, Syria's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Under the agreement, Syria will take control of the Hmeimim air base near Latakia and the commercial berth at the port of Tartus as part of its civil administration. The military facilities at both locations will be converted into "joint training and qualification centers," the ministry said.
Syria and Russia have reached a memorandum of understanding to reorganize Russia's presence at the Hmeimim and Tartus bases in western Syria following about 18 months of negotiations, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said.
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