The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, travelled to Lebanon today where she met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, with whom she discussed the situation in Lebanon and in the rest of the region as well as the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza.
With Prime Minister Mikati and Speaker Berri, President Meloni stressed the need to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel at all times and had an exchange of views on how to support full and actual implementation of Resolution 1701. In this context, she reiterated Italy’s commitment to bolster the capabilities of the Lebanese armed forces so that they can assume the responsibilities provided for by Resolution 1701.
During her meetings, President Meloni focused on the emergency of displaced Lebanese people, recalling that Italy had recently earmarked an additional EUR 17 million in humanitarian aid. She also undertook to raise this issue at European and international level. This emergency is in addition to the Syrian refugee crisis, in relation to which Italy will continue to invest efforts, also within the European Union, in order to create the conditions for refugees to be able to return on a voluntary basis and in a safe, dignified and sustainable way, also with the support of the United Nations.
[[President Meloni's press point - Video available in Italian only]