Bogdanov Meets Lebanese Officials, Stresses: Dialogue in Lebanon, Political Solution in Syria

Local Editor

The Russian President's Special Representative to the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, reiterated his country's rejection of military intervention in Syria, calling for concerted regional and international efforts to help in finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

Bogdanov was speaking during a meeting on Friday with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to whom Bogdanov delivered a message from President Vladimir Putin affirming Russia's support for stability in Lebanon and for Baabda Declaration, which calls for distancing Lebanon from regional conflicts, particularly in Syria.

Following the meeting, the Russian diplomat stressed that the only option to solve the crisis in Syria is the political option through dialogue and on the basis of the Geneva Statement.
He said his country is exerting efforts towards implementing the Geneva Statement particularly in regard to dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition and appointing the representatives from both sides to come to the table and start dialogue.

He indicated agreement between the Russian and Lebanese foreign ministries on the necessity of respecting the international principles and conventions when approaching urgent international issues.

Bogdanov also met House Speaker Nabih Berri, affirming that the only way to solve the issues facing Lebanon and the region countries in the current time is the comprehensive national dialogue.

Bogdanov said he discussed with Berri, whom he described as the wisest politician in Lebanon and the region, developments in the country, including efforts to form a new government and preparations for the parliamentary elections, scheduled in June.
"We also spoke about what is happening in Syria given it's Lebanon's neighbor," he said. "We fully agreed with Speaker Berri that problems facing Lebanon and other countries in the region could only be resolved through a comprehensive national dialogue and understanding among various political parties in regional states and Syria," he added.

Asked if there was still a chance for a dialogue in Syria given the rifts among Syrian opposition groups and the rise of al-Qaeda, Salafist and other fundamentalist movements, Bogdanov said: "We have seriously reaffirmed that there is no choice other than the political choice through dialogue based on the ‘Geneva statement' issued on June 30 last year, which outlined the bases of a peaceful political settlement in Syria."

The Russian envoy, who began a three-day visit to Beirut Thursday, held talks also with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Army commander Gen. Jean Qahwagi. He also attended a luncheon hosted by Hizbullah in his honor at a restaurant on the road to Beirut airport. He is to meet Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam Saturday morning.

Speaking at a brief news conference with Head of Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, MP Mohammad Raad after the luncheon attended by a number of MPs, Bogdanov said the Lebanese should find solutions to political problems through dialogue.
"There might be different viewpoints stemming from various parties but we think the Lebanese should look for solutions via a comprehensive national dialogue," he said.

In parallel, Bogdanov said his country dealt with Hizbullah out of respect for the will of the Lebanese people who elected its MPs. "I want to confirm that we respect the will of the Lebanese people in electing their parliamentarians and we deal with Hizbullah and thus respect the will of the Lebanese," he said, adding that Hizbullah's viewpoints should be respected.

On another level, Bogdanov stressed his country's rejection of any sort of promoting a military operation against Syria, including the US-Western allegations which accuse the Syrian Army of using chemical weapons in its war against the armed groups.
In an interview with al-Manar channel, Bogdanov said: "We must have information and evidence, not only media reports that are not based on facts. Force was used in Iraq after accusing the country of possessing WMDs, but eventually these allegations were proven to be baseless."

He described the calls of some sides for the people in Lebanon to go to Syria for "Jihad" as calls to commit crimes.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org