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Lebanese president expresses concerns over US recognizing Golan Heights as part of Israel

MOSCOW, March 26./TASS/. The US decision to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights gives rise to concerns in other countries of the region, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said at talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, news has come today that the US recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel," Michel Aoun said. "Of course this undermines all foundations and rules of the United Nations, international law since the establishment of that organization. Certainly, this is a matter of major concern, triggering specific concerns in those countries that are situated in direct vicinity of Israel," the Lebanese president said.

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US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Golan is aimed at destabilizing Syria — analyst

This is already a second incident in which territories are taken away in this region, the president stressed. "We hope that the solution to this problem will be found shortly," he added.

Focusing on relations with Russia, Aoun stressed that they are long-standing and pledged to work to expand them.

On March 25, during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation formally recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Earlier, Russia and Syria as well as key European states, such as Germany and France, voiced their opposition to such unilateral actions.

The Golan Heights, which had belonged to Syria since 1944, was captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1981, the Israeli parliament passed a law unilaterally declaring sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The UN Security Council declared the annexation null and void in its Resolution 497 on December 17, 1981.

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