Meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, and the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Joseph Aoun

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, met at the Foreign Ministry with the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Joseph Aoun, to discuss the stability of the Lebanese institutional and economic framework, as well as security issues concerning the Southern border and bilateral Italian-Lebanese relations.

Minister Tajani said: "Italy is committed to being a protagonist of peace in the Lebanon and the Middle East, promoting dialogue and conveying messages of moderation to the parties. We follow the developments along the Blue Line with the utmost attention and work together with partners to foster mediation efforts and create a broader negotiation. Italy remains committed to every political, diplomatic and military aspect of the ongoing consultations to manage this delicate phase on the Lebanese-Israeli border and to create the conditions for reaching agreements for greater stabilisation".

The Deputy Prime Minister recalled the mission carried out last 24 January, during which he had held meetings at the highest levels in the Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, as an example of the role of support for stabilisation and diplomatic dialogue that the government is playing in the region.

Hon. Tajani also added: "At the end of January I wanted to personally thank the more than one thousand Italian military personnel deployed in the Lebanon, in the UNIFIL and MIBIL missions. Thanks to them and to the solid cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces, Italy will continue to support the stability and security of the Lebanon and of the region with determination".