INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The first official Russian delegation to visit Syria since the toppling of long-term Moscow ally Bashar al-Assad has arrived in Damascus,
state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.The visit comes as Moscow is keen to secure the fate of two military bases in the
fall of Assad.The Russian delegation, which is due to meet the new leadership of the war-ravaged country, included Deputy Foreign Minister
Mikhail Bogdanov, Putin's special envoy on the Middle East and Africa, as well as Alexander Lavrentyev, the president's special envoy on
Syria, RIA Novosti reported.Moscow was one of Assad's key backers, intervening in Syria's civil war in 2015 in his favor.He and his
family fled to Russia after his ouster by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Turkish-backed rebel group formerly affiliated with
Al-Qaeda.Russia is now seeking to secure the fate of its naval base in Tartus and its air base at Khmeimim with the new Syrian authorities
Russian state-controlled TV channel, said the delegation is set to meet Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad
al-Shaibani and other officials.Russia's Bogdanov was a diplomat in Syria in the 1980s and 1990s and speaks Arabic, according to the
organization.The organization is rooted in Al-Qaeda's Syria branch but has more recently adopted a more moderate tone.According to RT
Arabic, Bogdanov described the visit as aimed at strengthening historic ties based on shared interests, and underlined Russia's hopes for
removal of Russia's presence in Syria will contribute to the stability of not only the Syrian state, but the entire Middle East and
activity by the new rulers, aimed at building ties and easing sanctions.EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to begin easing sanctions on
making his first visit since Assad's overthrow.
