" Mr Putin announced the move at the Russian Hmeimim airbase in Syria
Russia has begun withdrawing some of its troops from Syria [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Deion-Jones-Jersey/]Women's Deion Jones Jersey[/url] , Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.


President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal during an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday.


Russian support has been crucial in turning the tide of Syria's civil war in favour of government forces, led by president Bashar al-Assad.


Mr Putin made a similar withdrawal announcement last year, but Russian military operations continued.


When asked how long it would take for Russia to withdraw its military contingent, Mr Shoigu said that this would ""depend on the situation"" in Syria.


The Russian president was met by Mr al-Assad at the Russian Hmeimim airbase near Latakia.


Mr Putin said: ""I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Keanu-Neal-Jersey/]Women's Keanu Neal Jersey[/url] ,"" according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency.


""I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia,"" he added.




Less than a week after announcing he will stand for re-election, Vladimir Putin flies to Syria and declares victory. Coincidence? Probably not.


Signalling the end of Russia's military operation in Syria will go down well with Russian voters.


Electoral concerns apart, Moscow views its two-year campaign in Syria as a success - and not only in terms of fighting international terrorism.


The Russians have succeeded in keeping a key ally [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Sean-Harlow-Jersey/]Women's Sean Harlow Jersey[/url] , President Assad, in power. In the process, Russia has been guaranteed a long-term military presence in Syria, with its two bases Hmeimim and Tartus. Moscow has also raised its profile across the Middle East.


Then there's the global stage. The operation in Syria prevented Moscow's international isolation.


Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 had sparked Western sanctions and earned the country [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Duke-Riley-Jersey/]Women's Duke Riley Jersey[/url] , in the eyes of some Western governments, the label ""pariah state"". The Syria operation forced Western leaders to sit down and negotiate with Russia's leadership.


Mr Putin said that if ""terrorists raise their heads again"", Russia would ""carry out such strikes on them which they have never seen"".


""We will never forget the victims and losses suffered in the fight against terror both here in Syria and also in Russia,"" he said.


He told President Assad that Russia wanted to work with Iran [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Takkarist-McKinley-Jersey/]Women's Takkarist McKinley Jersey[/url] , the government's other key ally, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, to help bring peace to Syria.


A Russian bomber lands at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Isaiah-Oliver-Jersey/]Women's Isaiah Oliver Jersey[/url] , in the northwest of Syria, 16 December 2015Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES



Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September 2015

Last week, Mr Putin announced the ""total rout"" of jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State (IS) along the Euphrates river valley in eastern Syria.


Russia launched an air campaign in Syria in September 2015 with the aim of ""stabilising"" Mr Assad's government after a series of defeats.


Officials in Moscow stressed that it would target only ""terrorists"", but activists said its strikes mainly hit mainstream rebel fighters and civilians.


The campaign has allowed pro-government forces to break the deadlock on several key battlefronts [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Calvin-Ridley-Jersey/]Women's Calvin Ridley Jersey[/url] , most notably in Aleppo.


The Syrian and Russian air forces carried out daily air strikes on the rebel-held east of the city before it fell in December 2016, killing hundreds of people and destroying hospitals, schools and markets, according to UN human rights investigators.


Moscow has consistently denied that its air strikes have caused any civilian deaths.


However [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Vic-Beasley-Jersey/]Women's Vic Beasley Jr Jersey[/url] , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday that Russian air strikes had killed 6,328 civilians, including 1,537 children.


The UK-based monitoring group has documented the deaths of 346 [url=http://www.falconsfootballpro.com/Falcons-Ito-Smith-Jersey/]Ito Smith Jersey[/url] ,612 people in total since the start of the uprising against Mr Assad in 2011.(Agencies)

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STRASRBOUG， March 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Parliament on Wednesday once again called for unity， but an undercurrent of concern showed fears for the bloc's future as it faced upcoming Brexit negotiations， the ongoing migration crisis， and continued economic uncertainty.


The debate also centered on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome， which launched the European Economic Community， predecessor to the EU. At the 60th anniversary celebration， a solemn declaration is intended to be made and signed to indicate the "rebirth" of the EU.


"We cannot simply have a formal ceremony to recall the best 60 years of free Europe，" said European Parliament President Antonio Tajani opening the debate on Wednesday.


"The anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome must first and foremost be an opportunity to bring Europe closer to its citizens，" he asserted， addressing concerns that rising populism and distrust of Brussels has come from increased feeling of alienation for citizens from the bulk of European politics.


"We have to give specific responses to unemployment， youth unemployment in particular， terrorism and migration， by promoting our values in the world. Now more than ever what we need is unity in Europe，" Tajani argued， before admitting， "We need to change the Union indeed， but we must not weaken it."


European Council President Donald Tusk gave an optimistic account of the March European Council meeting， calling the discussions between European leaders "constructive and open."


Still， Tusk confessed he understood why concerns around a "multi-speed" Europe， where some countries integrated more quickly and more deeply than others， needed to be discussed. He saw that the scenario， while controversial， would be sobering for people who want to . [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysnikeshop.com/]Cheap NFL Jerseys China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapncaasportsjerseysonline.com/]Cheap NCAA Jerseys From China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapmlbsportsjerseysonline.com/]Cheap MLB Jerseys China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapsportsjerseyssoccershop.com/]Cheap Soccer Hats China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapsportsjerseysnhl.com/]Cheap NHL Jerseys China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapsportsjerseysnba.com/]Cheap NBA Hoodies China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapsportsjerseysmlb.com/]Cheap MLB Hoodies China[/url] [url=http://www.cheapsoccerjerseyssportsshop.com/]Wholesale Hoodies[/url] [url=http://www.cheapnikenfljerseysshop.com/]Wholesale Hats[/url] [url=http://www.cheapnikejerseysnfl.com/]Wholesale NFL Shirts[/url]