BEIRUT, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is ready to cooperate with any government that is formed in Lebanon after the June 7 parliamentary election, the foreign minister said on Monday.
At the election, Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah will seek to oust the pro-Western Sunni alliance that dominates parliament.
"On the state level, we do business with all those elected by the Lebanese people, and we respect this choice," Sergei Lavrov said.
He stressed that on the political level, Russia would maintain contacts "with all political forces representing a significant cross-section of Lebanon's unique society."
Analysts have said a victory for Hezbollah will not result in dramatic changes, as the group already has a dominant political role. However, the United States has said that military aid to Lebanon could be reviewed if the Islamist group is elected.
Lavrov urged countries to recognize the result of the election, under any outcome.
"We consider it of paramount importance that election results be recognized not only in Lebanon but also by all those who are interested in a stable and independent Lebanon - that is to say, by the entire international community," the minister said.
He also warned against any attempts to politicize the work of an international tribunal investigating the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Hariri was assassinated in a bomb attack on February 14, 2005 in Beirut. The investigation by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon into his assassination is ongoing, but in its initial reports, the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) indicated that the Syrian government may be linked to the assassination.
"Any attempts to influence the tribunal's work are unacceptable," Lavrov said.
