Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri discussed on Friday the prospects for stepping up bilateral cooperation and providing the republic with additional assistance in combating the spread of the pandemic coronavirus.
"The sides considered the state and prospects for activating bilateral Russian-Lebanese mutual cooperation, including the possibility of providing Lebanon with additional assistance in combating the spread of the coronavirus infection," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Smolensk Square noted that the meeting included a detailed exchange of views on the situation in Lebanon with an emphasis on the task of quickly overcoming the socio-economic crisis "through the creation of a capable technocratic cabinet, which enjoys the support of the country's main political and confessional forces." "The Russian side reaffirmed its unwavering position in favor of preserving the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon. The necessity of solving acute issues of the national agenda on the basis of mutual consent of the leading Lebanese political forces without foreign interference was stressed," the ministry pointed out.
The sides also discussed regional issues, including facilitating the return home of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
According to the World Health Organization, 504,800 coronavirus infections were recorded in Lebanon between January 3, 2020, and April 16 of this year, and 6,809 people died.
Hariri is visiting Moscow at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS