Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Vincenzo Amendola, travelled to Beirut yesterday for a number of official meeting with high-ranking officials of the new large coalition Government led by Sunni Saad Hariri. Mr Amendola’s mission represents an important opportunity to meet Lebanon’s new political and institutional leaders following the election last October of the President of the Republic Michel Aoun. Yesterday Mr Amendola met with the Minister of Social Affairs Pierre Bou Assi, to whom he renewed the Italian Cooperation Directorate’s support to tackle the migration emergency. Last evening Mr Amendola met with the Commander of the Italian contingent in UNIFIL, General Cillo and the Commander of MIBIL, Colonel Radizza, to exchange opinions on the future perspectives of the UN Mission in Lebanon. This morning, the undersecretary met with the Minister of Energy and Water César Abi Khalil, to whom he expressed Italy’s willingness to work towards achieving stable cooperation in the energy sector. In the afternoon, Undersecretary Amendola had four institutional meetings with the Minister for Refugee Affairs, Mouin Merhebi, with the Minister of Education Marwan Hamade, with the Minister of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil and with the Minister of Interior and Municipalities Nohad Machnouk. During the talks, Mr Amendola confirmed Italy’s support for the stabilisation of Lebanon.
In addition, this evening the undersecretary also met with the Minister of Defence, Yacoub Sarraf. Mr Amendola then went on to have a talk with representatives of the Lebanese business world and media.
Mr Amendola’s visit will end tomorrow with a meeting with Pierre Raffoul, State Minister for Presidency Affairs.
