3 November 2005 -- A top Lebanese politician is meeting with Russia's foreign minister in Moscow today for talks on Syria and the UN investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
Walid Jumblatt, the political leader of Lebanon's Druze community, arrived yesterday in Moscow for a three-day visit.
In his talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, he is expected to discuss the UN resolution warning Syria to cooperate fully with the independent investigation.
The Security Council voted unanimously for the resolution on 31 October. But unanimity was achieved only after the United States, Britain, and France -- the sponsors of the resolution -- agreed to drop an explicit threat of economic sanctions against Syria.
Russian news agencies quoted Jumblatt as saying yesterday that Russia "played a big role in preventing sanctions against Syria," adding that "sanctions don't help."
(ITAR- TASS/Interfax/AP)
Walid Jumblatt, the political leader of Lebanon's Druze community, arrived yesterday in Moscow for a three-day visit.
In his talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, he is expected to discuss the UN resolution warning Syria to cooperate fully with the independent investigation.
The Security Council voted unanimously for the resolution on 31 October. But unanimity was achieved only after the United States, Britain, and France -- the sponsors of the resolution -- agreed to drop an explicit threat of economic sanctions against Syria.
Russian news agencies quoted Jumblatt as saying yesterday that Russia "played a big role in preventing sanctions against Syria," adding that "sanctions don't help."
(ITAR- TASS/Interfax/AP)
