Unconditional Russian Military Aid to Lebanon
Minister of Defense Elias Murr said Russia has not put conditions to provide the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) with modern military equipment.
Following his meeting with the head of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, Mikhail Dimitriev ,on Saturday, Murr said: "There are no obstacles in terms of equipping the army. We prepared for my visit to Russia next week. I will discuss … with the Russian defense minister what could be provided to LAF."
Murr also talked to reporters about his upcoming visit to Syria, saying: "I was invited by Secretary-General of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council Nasri Khoury to visit Damascus."
He added that he has agreed to the visit and worked with Khoury on setting an agenda.
Murr disclosed that he would present the cabinet with a working agenda for his Syrian trip.
He said he wants to get cabinet approval on all points of discussion with Syrian officials. These include the issue of border security and the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701.
Dimitriev, in his turn, said Russia is keen to see stability in the region, particularly in Lebanon.
"That is why we consider it very important to see a strong LAF … We wish to provide a new pulse to our bilateral relations in the military and technical field," he said.