President Michel Aoun agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials to “activate tripartite Lebanese-Russian-Syrian action to secure the return of Syrian refugees” to their country, Lebanese TV networks reported on Tuesday.

“Moscow is seeing the success of its initiative on the return of refugees, seeing as most areas in Syria have become capable of receiving them,” OTV, which is affiliated with Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, reported.

“Lebanon is at the heart of the Russian plan, seeing as it is Syria's neighbor and it is suffering more than other countries due to the presence of refugees on its soil,” OTV added.

In an official joint statement, Aoun and Putin meanwhile expressed their support for “the efforts aimed at implementing Russia's initiative for securing the return of Syrian refugees and those displaced internally.”

“Resolving this problem depends directly on preparing the appropriate circumstances in Syria, including the social and economic conditions, through post-conflict reconstruction,” the statement said.

Separately, the statement said Lebanon and Russia intend to boost bilateral ties in “commerce, economy, investment, energy, culture, the humanitarian field, education, sports, tourism and other fields of cooperation.”