Russia, Syria In Talks On Mediterranean Naval Base

Tartus-Syria (click arrows)

MOSCOW (AFP)--Russian military officials held talks with their Syrian counterparts Friday, amid tensions with the West following Russia's conflict with Georgia last month.
The talks were on the use of the Soviet-era Mediterranean naval base at Tartus, Interfax and RIA Novosti reported.
Russian Navy commander Vladimir Vysotsky and his Syrian counterpart General Taleb al-Barri discussed stepping up Russia's use of the Tartus base in line with an increase in Russian naval missions, the reports said.
Russia has in recent years moved to reactivate its use of the base, which was heavily used in the Soviet era to resupply ships in the Mediterranean. Russia doesn't have a permanent base in the Mediterranean. (Source)