Syrian Regime Pleads With Russia for Economic Aid
Senior Syrian officials have pleaded with Russia for financial loans and supplies of oil products, a sign that the global fallout from President Bashar Assad’s crackdown on a rebellion is squeezing his regime.
While the Syrian delegation was holding talks in Moscow, a squadron of Russian warships was approaching Syria’s port of Tartus, the only naval base Russia has outside the former Soviet Union. The Russian Defense Ministry said that some of the ships may call on the port to replenish their supplies.
Syria’s Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil, who led a delegation of several Cabinet ministers on a trip to Moscow, told reporters Friday that they have asked for a Russian loan to replenish Syria’s hard currency reserves, which have been depleted by international embargoes on Syrian exports.
Jamil and Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad al-Julaylati refused to disclose the sum of the loan Syria is seeking.
“We have asked Russia for a hard currency loan to allow us overcome the current problems, and they promised to consider our request,” al-Julaylati said at a news conference. “We need some additional resources. Countries in such situations usually ask for foreign loans.”
Jamil said Syria may get the loan within weeks. Russian authorities did not issue any comments about the requests.