European Union foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas

The European Union has set out a number of requirements that must be met before it officially recognises the new government or establishes diplomatic relations with Damascus.

The European Union intends to raise the issue of closing Russian military bases in Syria during meetings with the country’s new government. This was stated on Monday, December 16, by the head of European diplomacy Kaia Kallas after a meeting with EU foreign ministers, Politico reports.

According to her, many European officials believe that a condition for dialogue with Damascus should be, in particular, “the elimination of Russian influence”.

“These bases, where they also conduct their activities in Africa and the southern neighbors. This, of course, raises concerns about European security,” the head of European diplomacy said.

Kallas reported that Brussels has already sent a high-ranking EU diplomat to Syria to establish contacts with the Syrian interim government.

The issue of Russian bases in Syria was raised, in particular, by Dutch Minister Kaspar Veldkamp at the meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“Regarding Russian military bases in Syria, we want Russia to leave,” he said.

Earlier, the European Union had severed all diplomatic relations with the Assad regime.

It should be noted that the Khmeimim air base is located in Latakia, Syria. In 2017, Russia received the right to station its aerospace forces free of charge for a period of 49 years.

Also, the Syrian port of Tartus in the Mediterranean, the center of the province of the same name, is home to a Russian naval base. Russia keeps warships there.

As is known, in early December, rebel forces in Syria successfully attacked the country’s largest city, Aleppo, and then quickly took control of other regions.

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