Beirut, on June 21, 2012

His Eminence the Sheikh Akl of the Druze Unitarian Community the Sheikh Naim Hassan received at the House of the Community in Verdun – Beirut the Ambassador of Russia in Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin, and discussed with him the general situation in Lebanon and the region.
After the meeting, the Ambassador Zasypkin issued the following statement:
We discussed today with his Eminence the Sheikh Akl the old and perfect relations between Russia and the Druze Community. We recalled the days of the Soviet Union, the study of different sons of the Druze Community in Russia, the white pages of relations and people such as the Soviet Union hero Kamal Joumblat. We are currently witnessing a new period and we should simultaneously pursue the traditions and develop the ties with Lebanon. We discussed some matters related to this context.
On the other side, we exchanged the opinions about the situation in the region. At this point, I certified to his Eminence the Sheikh on behalf of Russia, the full support for sovereignty, union and independence of Lebanon. We support the preservation of stability and security in this neighbor country.
He added:  “In these circumstances, I mentioned the Russian steps that are currently taking place regarding the holding of the international conference about Syria and the negotiations with the concerned parties in order to achieve this goal”.
His Eminence the Sheikh Naim Hassan certified to Zasypkin the importance of Russia’s initiative in view of its position at the regional and international level to cease the repetitive Israeli hostility on Gaza strip and all the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the Christian and Islamic sacraments. His Eminence the Sheikh Hassan also called Russia to immediately undertake without any delay, to stop the blood shedding in Syria and let it regain peace and stability, then contribute to the elaboration of a political solution that allows the Syrian people to achieve their goals as for the reform, progress and development far away from all violence forms.