Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri intends to ask Russian authorities for economic assistance during his visit to Russia, including restoration of Beirut port, supplies of coronavirus vaccine and construction of power plants, Lebanese Prime Minister's Special envoy George Shaaban told RIA Novosti.
Earlier the Russian Cabinet reported that Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin would hold talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Moscow on April 15.
According to Shaaban, Lebanon needs economic assistance in various sectors. "Lebanon needs economic and political assistance. For this, Prime Minister Hariri will come to Russia because he knows that Russia has good relations with all political forces in Lebanon and has relations with all countries in the region, as well as with other countries that influence the situation in Lebanon. Every time there have been difficulties in Lebanon, we have turned to Russia because we know that Russia is a great power that can help Lebanon in a difficult situation. Prime Minister Hariri, like his father Rafic Hariri, has very good and friendly relations with the Russian leadership, especially President (Vladimir) Putin, and so they turn with hope to Russia in difficult times. We know that Russia can help Lebanon both economically and politically because it has such capabilities," Shaaban noted.
"We will also ask for outside help in the form of vaccines, the possibility of creating a reserve of a certain amount of vaccines for the Lebanese state to vaccinate as much of the population as possible. We know that the Russian Sputnik V vaccine is considered one of the best," he said.
In addition, he recalled that France had previously promised economic aid to Lebanon if a number of conditions were met. "The program allocated on the basis of the French initiative describes the necessary steps to reform the economy, conduct and restore a number of projects, including the port of Beirut and the country's energy sector. As you know, we have an electricity crisis in the country, and there is a need to build new power plants that can provide the country with a 24-hour electricity supply. And on these issues we will turn to Russia and its possible assistance to Lebanon, both in these sectors and in others," he concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from RIA Novosti