Gentiloni-Bassil: Lebanon is a Country of utmost importance for the stability of the region

Foreign Minister Gentiloni received the visit of Gebran Bassil, the Foreign Minister of Lebanon, this morning in Rome on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting that was held in Brussels.
Discussions focused on the weight that the Syrian crisis has on the development of Lebanon – which hosts over 1.5 million Syrian refugees, representing 25% of the Lebanese population – and on the contribution made by Italy at London’s Pledging Conference by pledging a multi-year provision of 400 million dollars, of which Lebanon is one of the main beneficiaries.
Mr Gentiloni expressed the hope that the commitments made by the participants to the Conference will soon be fulfilled so that the Lebanese Government might be able to tackle the challenges of the Country’s security and socio-economic stability.
During the talks, Mr Gentiloni asked for an update on the perspectives of overcoming the presidential stalemate and confirmed Italy’s willingness to favour any effort by Lebanon’s political parties to reach an agreement.
“Lebanon is a Country of utmost importance in the region; the current situation makes it a topmost priority to overcome the Country’s institutional stalemate.”
Minister Bassil expressed Lebanon’s great appreciation for the role that Italy plays in UNIFIL through the leadership of Major-General Luciano Portolano, as Force Commander and Head of Mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).