Syrian minister in Moscow for Lebanon talks
A top Syrian envoy headed to Moscow today for talks with Russian diplomats on a UN resolution urging Syria to pull out of Lebanon.
Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al-Moalim’s visit comes after Moscow urged its longtime ally to withdraw 15,000 Syrian troops from Lebanon, adding to the mounting international pressure.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Syrian troops should leave Lebanon in line with September’s resolution of the United Nations’ Security Council, but added in an interview with the BBC that the withdrawal must be conducted in such a way that it doesn’t break the “fragile balance in Lebanon”.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that Lavrov’s talks with al-Moalim would focus on the UN resolution requiring the Syrian pull-out and also touch on the regional situation and bilateral co-operation.
Lavrov said that while Russia, a permanent Council member, abstained during the vote on the resolution, it must be implemented. He also voiced hope that forthcoming elections will bring a new Lebanese government that would help stabilise the situation.
Syria, which the United States says sponsors international terrorism, is also accused by the Lebanese opposition of being behind the last month’s assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri that plunged the nation into political turmoil.
Syria has been a close ally of Moscow since the Soviet era, and the Russian government is negotiating to sell advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Damascus in defiance of the US and Israeli pressure. Syrian President Bashar Assad visited Russia in January.
| Related Stories: |
|
