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 foreign
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
Sybiga told Sharaa while in Damascus, according to a statement.The Russian delegation's visit comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity by
the new rulers, aimed at building ties and easing sanctions.EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to begin easing sanctions on Syria,
starting with key sectors such as energy.U.S
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was received by Sharaa on Friday, making his first visit since Assad's overthrow.
