Suleiman. Praised Medvedev for support
Photo: Reuters
Report: Russia to provide Lebanon with choppers
Al-Nahar reports Lebanese president signed military cooperation deal with Russian counterpart
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman returned Friday from a two-day visit to Moscow and announced Russia had agreed to provide his country with Mi-24 helicopters, Al-Nahar reported.
Russia announced in December of 2008 that it would provide Lebanon with 10 Mig-29 type planes, but Suleiman asked instead to receive the state of the art military choppers and the advanced missiles they carry.
The first Lebanese president ever to visit Moscow, Suleiman signed a military cooperation deal with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday. The latter described the visit as a "milestone" in relations between the two countries.
Suleiman said it was a historical event and praised Medvedev for his support of Lebanon. In an interview with Russia Today he said Israel's threats against his country were the focus of many of his conversations with the Russian president.
"Israel is trying with its threats to achieve two things – escape from international pressure placed on it to proceed in the peace process, and create an atmosphere of sectarianism within Lebanon," Suleiman said.
His visit followed one by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who tried unsuccessfully to convince Russia to cancel a deal providing Iran with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.
