Raji Meets Lavrov: We Adhere to Lebanon's Sovereignty and Look Forward to a Positive Russian Role

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Youssef Raji met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in the Russian capital, Moscow, and held talks covering bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as developments in Lebanon and the region.

At the beginning of the meeting, Lavrov welcomed his guest, affirming "his country's support for Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity, and Russia's readiness to extend a helping hand to Lebanon amid the difficult circumstances faced by the Lebanese people due to Israeli aggressions."

For his part, Raji thanked his Russian counterpart for the warm reception, stressing "Lebanon's keenness on the best possible relations with Russia, politically, economically, and culturally, based on shared interests."

Raji reiterated "Lebanon's adherence to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the necessity of Israeli withdrawal and cessation of aggressions," explaining the delicacy of the situation in Lebanon amidst "Israel's refusal to withdraw and its continuation of attacks, and Hezbollah's reluctance to surrender its weapons." He also affirmed "the state's determination to complete the extension of its exclusive authority over all its territories, ensuring that weapons and decisions regarding peace and war remain solely in the hands of its legitimate institutions," emphasizing that "the decision to restrict weapons was taken by the Lebanese government in service of Lebanon's interests, not those of any other country."

Raji expressed "Lebanon's aspiration for a positive Russian role, stemming from Russia's position in the Security Council and its standing in the region, which supports state stability, strengthens its institutions, and fortifies the diplomatic path, without linking the Lebanese issue to any settlements that override its national interests."

The talks continued during a lunch hosted by Lavrov in honor of his guest, addressing several bilateral topics of mutual interest, particularly in the cultural and educational fields. Raji appreciated Russia's decision to increase the number of scholarships allocated to Lebanese students, wishing for the return of Russian tourists to Beirut, and finally extended an invitation to Minister Lavrov to visit Lebanon.

Minister Raji had previously visited the Lebanese Embassy in Moscow, where he was received by Lebanese Ambassador Bashir Azzam and embassy staff, both Lebanese and Russians. He reviewed the progress of work at the mission and its assigned tasks, praising the efforts of its employees and stressing "the pivotal role of diplomatic missions in serving Lebanese citizens and enhancing relations with host countries."