Moscow, Beirut confirm commitment to political solution of Syrian crisis
MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov has held a meeting with Lebanese Interior Ministry's General Security Directorate head Abbas Ibrahim, who is paying a working visit to Moscow.
"A confidential exchange of opinions on the current situation in Syria and around it took place on the grounds of the trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, Iran and Syria in Moscow on December 20 among other things. At that, the sides confirmed a principled stance of Moscow and Beirut in favor of a prompt achievement of the progress in the process of the settlement of the Syrian crisis on the basis of the UN Security Council's resolution 2254, which would meet true interests of the regional and global stability," Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday evening.
The ministry said that the election of Lebanese President Michel Aoun and forming of the new government with participation of Lebanon's leading political forces is a landmark on the path of resumption of an effective work of the Lebanese public institutions.
"The Russian side emphasized continued support to sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon, pointed out particular importance of the consensus achieved during the intra-Lebanon dialogue, which allowed overcoming the long-term political crisis in the country," the ministry said.
"This will create the necessary conditions for the Lebanese leaders to ensure harmonious implementation of social and economic tasks including support to the army and law enforcement structures in countering terrorist threat and resolving the issues of over one million refugees from the neighboring Syria staying in the territory of Lebanon," Russian Foreign Ministry said.
