President Joseph Aoun (L) meeting with Russia's ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov (C) on Dec. 8, 2025. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Russia's Ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, conveyed to President Joseph Aoun on Monday his country’s support for Lebanon's decision to negotiate with Israel through the “mechanism” committee, after the presidency decided to appoint a civilian in the committee last week.
Last Wednesday, civilian representatives from Lebanon and Israel took part in the cease-fire monitoring committee meeting in southern Lebanon, marking the first direct talks in over 40 years between the two countries.
Prior to the meeting, Presidential spokesperson Najat Charafeddine announced the appointment of lawyer and former Lebanese ambassador to Washington in the early 1990s, Simon Karam, to represent the country in the meeting.
Rudakov conveyed to Aoun Moscow's support for "Lebanon’s positions regarding the latest developments, particularly the issue of negotiations through the mechanism committee" and affirmed his country's desire to strengthen relations between the two countries," the state-run National News Agency reported.
The monitoring committee was established as part of the cease-fire agreement in order to address complaints and truce violations, and yet Israeli violations have topped 12,000 since the truce came into effect a little over a year ago, including the killing of more than 350 people.
The expansion of the mechanism to include civilians was a suggestion made by U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus. It received a general agreement in principle from the various power centers in Lebanon. However, the president's decision, which was made following consultation with the prime minister and parliament speaker, was criticized by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who considered it a concession to Israel.
