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Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Lebanese President Michel Sleiman shake hands at the Kremlin in Moscow (AFP/POOL/Mikhail Metzel)
Characterizing the visit as historic, Sleiman praised Medvedev for his support of Lebanon and said the two sides had discussed signing a long-term military cooperation agreement.
"It is a framework agreement and is planned to be signed in the near future," added the head of Russia's military-technical cooperation agency, Mikhail Dmitriyev, according to the ITAR-TASS news agency.
However there was no mention of past promises by Russia to deliver 10 MiG-29 fighter jets as a gift for the Lebanese military, an issue that had been discussed by the countries' defence ministers in December 2008.
Under the plan, the fighter jets would be modernized before delivery and the transport of the jets would be paid for by the Russian defence ministry.
Lebanese daily As Safir, quoting an official in Sleiman's delegation, said the president would be raising the possibility of the MiGs being replaced by other hardware better suited to the needs of the Lebanese military.
"The budget of the army cannot sustain the huge expenditures linked to the MiGs which require constant maintenance," said the official, who was not named.
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"It is a framework agreement and is planned to be signed in the near future," added the head of Russia's military-technical cooperation agency, Mikhail Dmitriyev, according to the ITAR-TASS news agency.
However there was no mention of past promises by Russia to deliver 10 MiG-29 fighter jets as a gift for the Lebanese military, an issue that had been discussed by the countries' defence ministers in December 2008.
Under the plan, the fighter jets would be modernized before delivery and the transport of the jets would be paid for by the Russian defence ministry.
Lebanese daily As Safir, quoting an official in Sleiman's delegation, said the president would be raising the possibility of the MiGs being replaced by other hardware better suited to the needs of the Lebanese military.
"The budget of the army cannot sustain the huge expenditures linked to the MiGs which require constant maintenance," said the official, who was not named.
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