Lavrov Meets Bassil, Says Russia to Reinforce LAF Capabilities to Confront Terrorism
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that his country will support the Lebanese army's efforts to confront terrorism, considering that the presidential elections in Lebanon will unify the country.
“Russia will fortify its military cooperation with Lebanon and will beef up the defense capabilities of Lebanese Armed Forces,” Lavrov said in a joint press conference with his visiting Lebanese counterpart Jebran Bassil.
The Russian FM said that Moscow supports the endeavors carried out by the army to “confront terrorism in (the northern city of) Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley.”
The army began implementing a security plan in Tripoli in an attempt to put an end to the clashes that frequently erupt between the city's rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen.
The army and security forces have so far arrested dozens of suspects and their efforts are ongoing to detain more.
The plan was then implemented in the Bekaa region, with the security forces cracking down on gunmen, car theft gangs, and other outlaws.
Lavrov stressed that Moscow rejects any foreign intervention in Lebanon, considering that electing a new president would “create further unity among the Lebanese.”
“We will have relations with any new Lebanese president elected by the parliament,” the Russian diplomat said.
The parliament failed to elect a new president on Wednesday, with no candidate securing the two-thirds of the votes needed to win and many lawmakers leaving their ballots blank.
Lavrov pointed out that his country will help Lebanon “overcome its economic and social crises, which further increased by the huge influx of Syrian refugees into its territories.”
“The number of Syrian refugees became a burden on the Lebanese economy,” he said, voicing readiness to offer Lebanon all the needed help.
The UNHCR announced earlier in April that the number of Syrian refugees who have fled their war-torn country and came to Lebanon has reached 1 million.
According to the UNHCR, refugees from Syria, half of them children, now equal a quarter of Lebanon's resident population, warning that most of them live in poverty and depend on aid for survival.
For his part, Bassil stressed the need to “create a strong Lebanon,” noting that Russia could “play an important role in maintaining stability in the region.”
“Russia and Lebanon have the same points of view regarding a political solution to the crisis in Syria,” he said.
Bassil told reporters that “Lebanon is paying the price.”
He called on Russia to support Lebanon, describing the refugee crisis as “dangerous.”
Bassil expressed hope that Russia would cooperate with Lebanon to end this crisis and facilitate the return of the refugees to their country in safe conditions.
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