Syria terminates agreement with Russian company to manage Tartus port
Illustrative photo: Syria has terminated its agreement with a Russian company to manage the port of Tartus (Getty Images)
The new Syrian government has terminated the agreement with the Russian company Stroytransgaz on the management of the Tartus seaport. It was supposed to last 49 years, Al-Watan reports.
According to the agency, Customs Director Riad Judi confirmed that the port of Tartus was almost inoperable due to laws and very high tariffs for all port services. That is why the transitional government is working on restructuring and organizing the port.
He said in a statement that the agreement signed with a Russian company to invest in the port of Tartus had been canceled, that all revenues from it had been transferred to the Syrian state, and that the port workers would be reinstated.
Judi also emphasized that customs duties have been reduced by 60% compared to the previous ones, and high fees remain only on some goods to take into account and protect the local product.
The current administration has allowed the import of materials and goods that were previously banned. The port of Tartus is currently experiencing excellent ship traffic, both Syrian and Arab, and international and transit ships loaded with various goods such as iron, carbonate, sugar, and others.
Withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria
The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime led to Russia's withdrawal of some of its troops from Syria. However, Ukrainian intelligence later reported that the Russians were having major problems evacuating soldiers from the country.
the Russian ship Ursa Major, which was transporting strategic cargo, sank in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion in the engine room.
The ship's owner, Oboronlogistika, said that before the sinking, three explosions occurred on the starboard side. Russians believe that the ship was blown up.
