Italian FM Kicks Off Two-Day Official Visit to Beirut, to Meet Senior Officials

Visiting Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino kicked off an official tour on senior Lebanese officials on Wednesday to discuss the bilateral ties between the two countries and the latest developments locally and in the region.

Bonino held talks with her Lebanese counterpart Adnan Mansour at the Bustros Palace.

The Italian official told reporters after meeting Mansour that there is “no magical solution for the terrorist groups that have been globalizing.”

The official held separate talks later on with President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Premier-designate Tammam Salam.

Bonino arrived on Tuesday night to Beirut on a two-day official visit.

She is also inspected the Italian contingent operating within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and met with UNIFIL Commander Paolo Serra, who is an Italian general.

“Italy will not reduce the size of the Italian contingent,” Bonino told Mansour.

She also called on state institutions to become active and play their effective role.

For his part, Mansour lauded the bilateral ties between the two countries.

“We tackled the regional and international situation... and its impact on Lebanon,” he pointed out.

Italian PM Enrico Letta arrived in Lebanon in December where he discussed with senior officials the need to help Lebanon confront the crisis of Syrian refugees and fortify the capabilities of LAF.

Bonino stressed to Suleiman that Italy will coordinate with the concerned countries preparations for an international conference in Rome set to tackle the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed force.

She expressed her country's constant solidarity with Lebanon.

Suleiman praised the role played by Italy in Lebanon and the region.

After talks with Miqati, Bonino pointed out that a meeting will be held in March to prepare for the International conference, which is expected to be held in April.

Italy continuously expressed support to Lebanon to help it confront the crisis of Syrian refugees in Lebanon in accordance with the decisions reached by the International Support Group for Lebanon.

The support group was inaugurated in New York in September 2013,on the sidelines of the 68th session of the General Assembly. It undertook to work together to mobilize support for the sovereignty and state institutions of Lebanon and to highlight and promote efforts to assist the country where it was most affected by the Syrian crisis, including in respect of strengthening the capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces, assistance to refugees, and structural and financial support to the government.