Deputy Prime Minister Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani pursued his visit to Russia, where he met with the head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations Archbishop Hilarion in his residence in Moscow in the presence of Lebanon’s Patriarchal Bishop in Russia Nivone Saikali. The situation of the region and the latest emerging issues in Lebanon, in particular the Syrian displacement and the general Christian situation in Lebanon were discussed, especially that the Russian Orthodox Church attaches great attention to the situation of Christians in the East and the promotion of their stability.

During the meeting, Hasbani emphasized the need to ensure stability and impartiality in Lebanon and the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church’s support to Lebanon at different levels. He also stressed that building social, humanitarian, cultural and economic bridges and enhancing the role of the concerned institutions are essential to Lebanon.