NNA – The Lebanese Embassy in Moscow announced in a statement that “a delegation of Arab ambassadors accredited to the Russian Federation, led by the Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps in Moscow, Lebanese Ambassador Shawki Bou Nassar, met with the Vice-President of the the Russian Federal Council (Senate) Konstantin Kosachev, in the presence of a number of Among the sheikhs are the heads of specialized parliamentary committees.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on many outstanding issues and discussed the latest developments in the Middle East region as well as those related to the Russian military operation in Ukraine which started in late February with the aim of protecting Russian national security – as announced by the Russian government at the time – and preventing the Kiev authorities from targeting residents of the Donbass region, who mostly belong to the Russian minority.
Lebanese Ambassador Shawki Bou Nassar spoke on behalf of the Arab ambassadors, stressing “the importance of relations between Arab countries and the Russian Federation and the need to develop these historic relations at all levels, so as to serve common interests on both sides.” He expressed the hope that “next year will see positive developments that allow for the achievement of adequate political solutions through dialogue tables that stop wars and bloodshed, both as regards military actions in Ukraine and for crises in many countries Arabs”.
For his part, the Vice-President of the Russian Senate thanked Ambassador Bou Nassar and the Arab ambassadors for their willingness to communicate and develop mutual relations, especially at a time when Russia is exposed to harsh hostile campaigns by Western countries who are trying to isolate your country through illegal economic sanctions that violate international law and the UN Charter. He also stressed the importance of strengthening friendship ties with the countries of the Arab world. He praised the advanced level reached by those relations with all the countries of the region, especially with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
As for the military operation in Ukraine, Kosachev explained that it was a question of stopping the persistent Ukrainian aggressions and provocations committed by extremists, with the massive support of Western countries, with the aim of threatening the national security of Russia and its allies. He stressed that a solution to the crisis is possible on condition that Kiev returns to fulfilling what was promised and announced by the Ukrainian government in the early 1990s to remain neutral and not engage in axes, as well as respect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities in Ukraine and give up nuclear weapons. This declaration came after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the declaration of independence of the countries that were part of it.
At the end of the meeting, the two sides exchanged memories, on the occasion of the holidays and the approach of the new year.
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