Russian Government Delegates Visit Syria for the First Time After Bashar al-Assad's Fall

A Russian delegation has entered Damascus for the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria to negotiate with the new rulers of the country. At the same time, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees urged the international community to take united and "bold" actions to support the Syrian people and the country's refugees. The arrival of the senior Russian delegation in the Syrian capital on Tuesday, January 29, comes as Moscow, after years of military presence in Syria to sustain Bashar al-Assad's regime, is trying to ensure the operation of its military bases in the country. The Russian state news agency TASS reported that Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Foreign Minister, and Alexander Lavrentiev, the Kremlin's special envoy for Syria, are among the delegation sent to Syria to negotiate with the new rulers of the country. Before the TASS report was released, two Syrian sources told Reuters early Tuesday that negotiations between a Russian delegation and officials of the new Damascus government are expected to take place this week. Bogdanov had previously told the Russian news agency Interfax that his country's contacts with the officials of the "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" are proceeding in a "constructive manner" so that Russia can maintain its bases. Russia hopes to keep the Hmeimim airbase near the port of Latakia and the naval base in the port of Tartus. Both Latakia and Tartus, located on the Mediterranean coast, are home to major supporters of Bashar al-Assad and the Alawite sect. Russia has primarily used its naval facilities in Tartus as a station for transporting its military contractors to various points across Africa, although the military needs of Russia for the repair of naval equipment were also met at this base. The new Syrian government recently canceled the country's contract with a Russian company for the management and operation of the Tartus port. Bashar al-Assad had allowed Russia to use the Hmeimim airbase for 49 years, with the possibility of extending for an additional 25 years in contracts with Vladimir Putin. It was from this base that Bashar al-Assad was evacuated to Moscow. The 24-year rule of Mr. Assad came to an end on December 9 of this year, after his escape to Russia due to the 11-day advance of the "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" forces from Idlib province to Damascus. Bashar al-Assad's flight to Russia marked the end of his family's 54-year rule over Syria. Other than a letter attributed to him, no further news has emerged about Mr. Assad's fate in Russia. Ahmad al-Shara, the de facto leader of Syria, has stated that Russia has the opportunity to reassess its relations with Syria. However, satellite images showed that in the first month of the new government's rule, Russia was unable to transfer its military equipment from Syria to another location, possibly Libya. The Russian delegation's visit to Damascus comes just days after the European Union linked the lifting of sanctions against Syria to the withdrawal of foreign armed forces from Syrian territory. The EU has urged the new rulers of Damascus to compel Russia to vacate the Hmeimim and Tartus bases. In the meantime, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, on January 28, at the end of his visit to Syria, called on the international community to take bold and decisive action to assist Syrians in rebuilding their war-torn country and to support displaced Syrians. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, following the change of government in Syria, at least 200,000 refugees have returned to their country, but 7.4 million Syrians remain displaced within the country, and over six million displaced Syrians exist worldwide. Filippo Grandi stated that he had discussed with Ahmad al-Shara how to support the return of refugees, but a comprehensive approach is needed for a sustainable process and safe return of refugees and to prevent future displacements. According to Mr. Grandi, "now is an important moment for the world to strive to support the improvement of the situation in Syria, and cooperation among neighboring governments, financial donor countries, and the current Syrian government officials to establish peace and stability is a serious necessity for Syria and the entire region."