Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Damascus Government News

13 Oct 2016

Syria Makes Major Wheat Deal with Russia

Syria's state grain buying agency Hoboob struck a deal to purchase one million tonnes of Russian wheat from political ally Russia, covering the needs of government-controlled areas for a year. The Damascus government subsidises bread for the areas it controls ensuring the supply of flat loaves that are a staple for Syrian people. Syria often buys wheat from Russia but this was an unusually large amount for a cheap price. The source said it should cover the government's needs for this year until the next local wheat buying season in 2017. A Syrian government source close to the matter told Reuters Hoboob purchased the wheat at 150 euros ($168) a tonne, on a cost and freight basis, and shipment would be for a year after opening up the letter of credit.

10 Apr 2014

Ship Ready to Destroy Syria's Chemical Arms at Sea

The container ship M/V Cape Ray departs Portsmouth, Va., Jan. 10, 2014, for sea trials. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Lacordrick Wilson

Experts on board a cargo ship transformed into a multimillion dollar chemical weapons destroyer said on Thursday they were ready to start working on Syria's stock of toxic arms in the middle of the Mediterranean as early as May. Now they just have to hope the weather holds and Damascus delivers on time. Former container vessel Cape Ray, docked in southern Spain, has been fitted out with at least $10 million of gear to let it take on about 560 metric tonnes of Syria's most dangerous chemical agents and sail them out to sea, said officials.

06 Apr 2012

Russian Warship to Exercise off Syria

'Smetlivy' Photo credit Rianovosti (Gennady Dyanov)

A Russian warship will dock at the Syrian port of Tartus before planned exercises off the country's Mediterranean coast. The Smetlivy guided-missile destroyer will remain in the western Mediterranean through May. Smetlivy is the last Kashin-class destroyer in the Russian Navy. The ship returned to service after repairs in 2011. Its armament includes two 76-mm AK-726 guns and a SS-N-25 Switchblade anti-ship missile system. There has been an increased presence of NATO warships in the region since the uprising against the regine of President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year.