The Russian embassy in Lebanon noted that "leaders of political and religious forces in Lebanon have recently taken steps towards rapprochement in order to elect a president early and subsequently overcome the crisis that is increasingly engulfing the country every day." The embassy emphasized in a statement that "Russia positively appreciates and welcomes this constructive stance from our Lebanese friends. We are ready to continue providing support to resolve urgent issues on the national agenda, in addition to strengthening leading political associations in the Republic of (the Cedar) on a national basis and with strict adherence to the principles underpinning the modern Lebanese state."
It pointed out that "at this sensitive current stage, the Lebanese economy requires external aid. Such aid should not be conditional upon the subjugation of political demands but should be offered for purely humanitarian reasons. Instead, we see how Lebanon has to pay the price for the dire consequences of the new colonial policies pursued by the Western world in the region."
The statement added: "Lebanon hosts over 1.5 million Syrian refugees, in addition to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Their total number approaches one-third of the country's population, making it one of the highest rates among countries facing a similar problem globally. The solution should be through revitalizing the Syrian economy, not by creating additional flashpoints in the region that further exacerbate Lebanon's suffering from the influx of illegal migration."
