Russia, Lebanon interested in developing political dialogue.

MOSCOW, October 1 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia and Lebanon are interested in
developing bilateral political dialogue and expanding mutually beneficial
cooperation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, commenting on
the meeting between Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and presidential
Middle East envoy Alexander Saltanov and Lebanese former Prime Minister
Fouad Siniora, who now leads the parliament faction of the Al Mustaqbal
movement.
"The sides expressed mutual satisfaction with the growing dynamics of
the Russian-Lebanese relations and spoke in favour of further developing
bilateral political dialogue, expanding mutually beneficial trade and
economic, cultural and other cooperation," the ministry said.
The Russian deputy foreign minister reiterated "Russia's principled
position geared towards ensuring stability in Lebanon on the basis of
national accord on acute issues of the internal agenda in the interests of
the Lebanese people, and consolidating sovereignty, independence, unity
and territorial integrity of the Lebanese state."
While discussing the situation in the Middle East, the sides stressed
that every effort must be taken not to let the Palestinian-Israeli
negotiating process be failed. According to the sides, this process is "a
key element of comprehensive Middle East settlement based on generally
recognized international legal norms, including the Arab peace initiative."
"The sides agreed that stable progress in settling the Arab-Israeli
conflict would create favourable conditions facilitating solutions to
other regional problems, which pose a serious threat to peace and
security," the ministry said.