Former Lebanese PM brings two important messages to Moscow

Despite differing views between former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Russia on the makeup of the Lebanese government, Hariri's recent visit to Moscow shows the bond between the two countries.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) welcomes Lebanon's former prime minister Saad al-Hariri during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, April 1, 2016. REUTERS/Michael Klimentyev/Sputnik/Kremlin ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. - RTSD5XC
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) welcomes Lebanon's former Prime Minister Saad Hariri during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, April 1, 2016. - REUTERS/Michael Klimentyev/Sputnik/Kremlin
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Maxim A. Suchkov
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Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, now a leader of the Future Movement, visited Moscow on March 30. The visit didn’t make front-page news, mostly because both sides kept a low profile.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Hariri family have a long-standing relationship, and the Kremlin press service seemed extremely reluctant to reveal details of the visit, stating in two sentences only that Hariri “paid a private visit.” 

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