US decision on Golan Heights to be discussed at Putin’s meeting with Lebanese president - Kremlin

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Lebanese counterpart Michael Aoun will discuss US leader Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Certainly, today, a few hours later," the Kremlin spokesman said when asked whether Putin’s contacts with his counterparts from the Middle East to discuss Trump’s decision were planned. Peskov confirmed that the issue would be raised at a meeting between the Russian and Lebanese leaders. Commenting on Trump’s decision, the Kremlin spokesman said that "this move clearly has negative consequences both from the viewpoint of the Middle East settlement and from the viewpoint of the overall atmosphere of a political settlement in Syria." "No one has any doubt about that. The most important thing is that this is perhaps another step taken by Washington in violation of international law. This is regrettable," he stressed. Peskov added that Putin’s work schedule for Tuesday could also include an international phone call. On March 25, Trump signed a proclamation recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House. Russia and Syria, along with the key European countries, including Germany and France, earlier spoke out against such unilateral moves. The Golan Heights, which had belonged to Syria since 1944, were seized by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1981, the Israeli parliament passed a law unilaterally declaring sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The UN Security Council declared the annexation null and void in its Resolution 497 on December 17, 1981. Read more