BEIRUT, December 6. /TASS/. Russia is committed to supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity and is against any attempts of interfering into domestic affairs with the aim of destabilizing the country, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has said.
Bogdanov, who is Russian president’s special representative for the Middle East and Africa, attended on Friday a solemn ceremony devoted to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The diplomat expressed support for “the decisive steps taken by the Lebanese Army and law enforcement agencies to fend off terrorist groups.” “We are ready to provide our Lebanese partners with the necessary assistance,” he said.
“We presume that the current problems need to be resolved in the constitutional framework through the dialogue between all the political and confessional forces,” Bogdanov said.
The diplomat said the Russian-Lebanese relations are now on an upward trajectory what has been proved by an increase in bilateral trade. “Good prospects open for increasing Lebanese exports to Russia, namely of agricultural goods,” Bogdanov said.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil has marked new horizons in the mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia. “We expect to significantly increase the flow of Lebanese goods to Russia,” he said. “Besides, we anticipate that Russian companies will have an important role in developing oil and gas reserves on the sea shelf.”.