Putin Denounces Foreign Interference in Lebanon

Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced any foreign interference in Lebanon Saturday, in a message addressed to delegates at the Arab League summit in the Syrian capital Damascus.

 

“A particularly urgent task is to maintain the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon, which must be protected from any foreign interference,” he said, in a statement released by the Kremlin.

 

Syria, with whom Russia has had close relations dating back to the Soviet era, has repeatedly been accused of interfering in Lebanon”s affairs.

 

Lebanon had been trying since November 24 to elect a new president but the differences between the pro- and anti-Syrian factions in the country has led to the worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

 

The ruling parliamentary majority in Lebanon, backed by the United States, western powers and most Arab countries, have accused Syria of trying to destabilize the country.

 

In his message to the Arab League, Putin said: “We support the initiative of your influential organization concerning the settlement of the Lebanese question.”

 

The Arab League has put its weight behind efforts to end the deadlock over the election of a president here and backs the formation of a government of national unity.

 

But the summit opened without half of the League”s members attending in protest at what they saw as Syria”s meddling in Lebanese politics.