Russia Succeeds in Middle East Policy – Lebanon Presidential Candidate

BEIRUT (Sputnik) — Russia pursues a successful policy in the Middle East and will never abandon its interests in Syria, Michel Aoun, one of the main contenders for the presidency of Lebanon, told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"We must take into account Russia’s role in the balance of power as a BRICS member. Russian interests are growing, but there are also the interests of China and India, including the Silk Road. I can say that Russia's policy is successful," the leader of the largest Christian party in Lebanon, the Free Patriotic Movement, said.

Aoun added that Russia will never give up its interests in the region, and in particular in Syria, and will continue to provide military and economic support to the leadership of the Arab Republic in the fight against international terrorism.

"Russia has great interests in Syria, the main one being a strategic base in Tartus, that needs sustenance," he added.

The naval facility in Tartus, established in Soviet times, has been used for the maintenance and resupply of Russian warships in the Mediterranean.

With the escalation of the Syrian crisis, Russia withdrew all military personnel from the Tartus base, replacing them with civilian workers. However, after the deployment of a large naval task force in the Mediterranean in 2013, Moscow has been considering reviving the facility.

Situation in Lebanon to Worsen if Syria Succumbs to Terrorism

The threat to Lebanese security will increase dramatically should the Syrian Army lose the war against terrorist groups, Michel Aoun told Sputnik.

"There is no serious threat to Lebanon. But the situation could change if Syria falls… Securing the Lebanese-Syrian border from the Islamic State postpones it."

Aoun added that Lebanon's role in the fight against international terrorism was to ensure security on its border with Syria.

According to the politician, the military operation that the Lebanese movement Hezbollah began in early May, almost entirely cleared the mountainous border areas between the two countries from terrorists, allowing the Syrian Army to advance, liberating the rest of the country, without fear of attacks from the Lebanese side.

At present, extremists control the northeastern Lebanese city of Arsal.

Syria, actively supported by Hezbollah, has been mired in civil war since 2011 as government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad have been fighting several opposition and radical Islamist militant groups, including the Nusra Front and the Islamic State.

A number of Western countries have long been vocally supportive of what they call "moderate" rebel fighters, while Russia has repeatedly stated that Assad is the legitimate president of Syria, and that the people of Syria must choose their government and leaders without outside intervention.