The head of the State Duma's friendship group with the Lebanese Parliament, Yevgeny Marchenko, asked Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to expand aid to Beirut and send building materials and food to the city affected by the powerful explosion, the parliamentarian told RIA Novosti.
The corresponding letter was sent to Mishustin on Tuesday. Similar requests were sent to Russian companies Rosneft and Novatek, which have business interests in Lebanon. Working versions of the documents are available to RIA Novosti.
Last Friday, Marchenko met with the Lebanese Ambassador to Russia, Shawki Bou Nassar, in Moscow. During the meeting, the parliamentarian told the diplomat that he would appeal to the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Russian oil and gas companies operating in Lebanon to expand assistance to the country in connection with the significant destruction in Beirut, and asked the Ambassador what additional assistance is needed for the city. In response, the Ambassador outlined such areas as the supply of building materials and food.
"By order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, humanitarian aid was sent from the Russian Federation, which arrived in Beirut immediately after the explosion and was received with gratitude and appreciation by the government and people of Lebanon. The Embassy of Lebanon requests to consider and expand the generous assistance, in particular, to include the materials and products specified in the attached list," the letter to Mishustin reads.
Marchenko explains in the document that he received a corresponding request from the Embassy of Lebanon following a meeting with the Ambassador. The list of building materials and products attached to Marchenko's letter was also provided to the parliamentarian by the Embassy.
Among the products listed are rice, sugar, flour, canned meat, powdered milk for babies, as well as medicines and building materials, including doors and fittings for them, electrical wiring and plumbing. In addition, the Embassy of Lebanon asks the Russian side to provide proposals for the restoration of the port, elevator and other facilities.
The notes to the list explain that the repair of houses, in particular their windows and doors, must be completed before the start of the rainy season, and that most of Beirut's medical supplies were destroyed in the explosion.
The Deputy's letter indicates that he visited Lebanon in 2019 and met with the country's leadership. "During my visit, I visited many cities, and everywhere the Lebanese expressed their sincere love for Russia," Marchenko said.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: WAEL HAMZEH / EPA / TASS