Mohamed Khair Banco, member of the political committee, said that the Assad government’s agreement with the Russians to carry out irrigation projects in Al-Hasakah province comes as a “reward to the Russians for their unwavering support for the Assad regime in its attempts to suppress the popular uprising. Syria today is a fully occupied country, as these economic concessions offered by Assad to his backers are not only a step towards the consolidation of the Iranian and Russian influence in Syria. Many of the projects that were underway have been suspended since the beginning of the revolution due to the economic and administrative deficit that the Assad regime is going through.” Banco also said that the Assad regime seeks through signing these agreements to give the impression that he is still able to manage the state and sign contracts with international companies. However, Syria today is no longer managed by a government, but by militias and colonial powers allied with the Assad regime.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
