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Lavrov to discuss return of Syrian refugees with Lebanese top diplomat

They will focus on the situation in the Middle East

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will discuss the situation in Syria, including the return of Syrian refugees, with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil on August 20, the Russian Foreign Minister said in a statement on Sunday.

"The two top diplomats will thoroughly discuss pressing regional and global issues, focusing on the situation in the Middle East, first and foremost, in Lebanon and Syria, as well as the situation surrounding Syria, including the Russia-initiated comprehensive work on the return of Syrian refugees to their home country," the statement reads.

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that the two top diplomats would also touch upon relations between Moscow and Beirut. "The focus of discussions concerning traditionally friendly relations between Russia and Lebanon was on ways to boost coordination on the international stage and maintain intense political dialogue on a number of issues of mutual interest," the statement says.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that as far as relations with Lebanon went, Russia called for ensuring the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and inter-religious harmony. "Moscow warns against attempts to destabilize the situation in Lebanon and calls on all the Lebanese political forces to show high responsibility and readiness to reach compromises on pressing domestic issues, particularly concerning the early establishment of a new government following the May parliamentary election," the document adds.

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Sergey Lavrov Syria Lebanon

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