RUSSIAN Special Envoy for Syria Arrives in Beirut

18 Jun 2019

Lebanon - Russian Special Envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, on Tuesday afternoon arrived at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport, coming from Iraq, accompanied by Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Vershinin, on top of a diplomatic delegation.

Lavrentiev and his accompanying delegation will begin an official visit to Lebanon for talks with senior Lebanese officials.

Greeting the delegation at Beirut's airport had been Russian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zasypkin, Prime Minister's Advisor for Russian Affairs George Shaaban, and Consul Rodrick Khoury of the Leanese Foreign Ministry.

Speaking to the National News Agency (NNA), Ambassador Zasypkin said that the Russian Envoy's visit to Beirut comes as part of a regional tour that includes Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

Zasypkin told "NNA" that Lavrentiev talks in Beirut will touch on the overall affairs related to the Syrian refugees, whether at the humanitarian, security or logistic levels.

The Russian ambassador also said that Lavrentiev will hand Lebanon an invitation to attend Astana 3 Conference set to take place upcoming July.

Shortly upon arrival, the Russian delegation headed to Ain El Tineh residence for a meeting with House Speaker Nabih Berri.

The Russian envoy is scheduled to meet tomorrow Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.