Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has arrived in Beirut for a series of official meetings with the President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Rajji. The agenda also envisages meetings with the Italian contingent serving in the Italian Bilateral Military Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL) and the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), as well as a video conference with Italian military staff deployed at the UNIFIL base in Shamaa.
It was decided to organise the mission to reaffirm the Italian Government’s solidarity with Lebanon, strengthen international support for the country and facilitate the achievement of a ceasefire. In this context, Minister Tajani will reiterate to President Aoun what already expressed during the telephone conversation on April 8, emphasising Italy’s solidarity in the face of the attacks suffered and the need to avoid further escalation in the region.
During the meetings, Italy’s support for the process of structural reforms initiated by the Lebanese Government will also be reaffirmed, with particular attention to strengthening governance and the rule of law and the disarmament of all Lebanese factions, starting with Hezbollah. Italy stands ready to support this process, also through training programmes for the Lebanese Armed Forces and Security Forces, with a view to continuing beyond the current mandate of the UNIFIL mission.
Italy plays a leading role in supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) through the MIBIL mission, its leadership of the Military Technical Committee (MTC4L) and the largest contingent of staff within UNIFIL.
On the humanitarian front, Minister Tajani will discuss the use of the €10 million emergency package already allocated and the distribution of over 40 tonnes of essential supplies from the Brindisi base delivered to Beirut. Italy remains committed to promoting further initiatives, including in the agricultural sector, in coordination with the UN Office in Rome, and stands ready to contribute to reconstruction efforts.
At regional level, Minister Tajani will emphasise the importance of promoting direct dialogue between Lebanon and Israel as a key element for lasting peace. In this context, the issue of tensions between the United States and Iran and the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz will also be addressed. Following upon the decisions taken at the recent meeting of the Ministers of the European Mediterranean Countries (MED9), held in Croatia, Minister Tajani will reiterate the proposal to organise a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the European Mediterranean countries and those of North Africa and the Middle East, with the aim of strengthening and supporting regional dialogue.
