Lebanon Eyes Military Deals with Russia

December 11, 2008 6:36 a.m. EST

Washington DC (THE MEDIA LINE) - Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr is heading for Russia on Monday to increase military cooperation between the two countries and discuss a defense agreement.

Russia will reportedly not attach any political conditions to the supply of military hardware to the Lebanese army.

Russia's military cooperation chief Mikhail Dimitriev has said Russia is keen to encourage regional stability and that it is important to see a strong Lebanese army.

The United States is also interested in bolstering the Lebanese army in order to enhance their capability vis-?-vis Hizbullah, which Washington designates a terror organization.

At the same time, Washington does not want Lebanon to acquire weapons that will challenge Israel's "qualitative edge" in weaponry, a Pentagon officials said, according to the Lebanese Daily Star.

Lebanon is one of several countries in the Middle East seeking to forge defense deals with Russia. Such deals indicate Russia's efforts to gain a stronger foothold in the Middle East, a trend that could come on account of the United States' economic, political and defense sway in the region.

"What the Lebanese army has is a huge hodgepodge of old kit. There hasn't been a massive coherent procurement for probably 20 years," Francis Tusa, editor of Defense Analysis newsletter told The Media Line. In terms of the range of equipment that Russia can supply, Tusa said Russia was unlikely to provide equipment that other countries could not. "If they want modernization, the great advantage about Russian equipment is that it tends to be cheaper," Tusa said.

In a separate development, Lebanon has reportedly chosen the first ambassador for its embassy in Syria. Michel Al-Khoury, a career diplomat, is Lebanon's current ambassador to Cyprus.

His nomination has not been officially confirmed.

The appointment requires the approval of the Lebanese cabinet and by Damascus before he can take up the post.

Syria and Lebanon established diplomatic ties for the first time in October and vowed to name ambassadors by the end of 2008.

Syria withdrew its forces from Lebanon in April 2005 after a 29-year presence in the neighboring country, caving in to public pressure after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister, Rafiq Al-Hariri.

Damascus denies the accusation that it was behind the killing of the influential anti-Syrian Al-Hariri. Critics say Syria still holds considerable sway in Beirut despite the withdrawal.