Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, on Monday welcomed in Yarze his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto, who visited him with an accompanying delegation including Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Nicoletta Bombardieri. During the meeting, the pair discussed bilateral relations, as well as the most recent developments in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. Crosetto stressed that “Italy is making the necessary contacts with the international community, and countries in the region, to discuss the situation in Gaza,’ emphasizing “the importance of joint action to mitigate the burden of the conflict and prevent the situation from deteriorating.’ The Italian Minister also stressed “the necessity of providing protection for innocent civilians,’ and lauded “the ongoing cooperation between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army.’ Crosetto finally stressed “Italy’s total readiness to provide more support to the Lebanese Army.” In turn, Sleem thanked ‘Italy for its support for Lebanon, and its assistance to the Lebanese Army,’ stressing ‘Lebanon’s keenness on the safety of UNIFIL, and its continuation of carrying out the tasks assigned to it.’ ‘The Lebanese Army was and will remain keen on maintaining a maximum degree of cooperation with UNIFIL,’ affirmed Sleem. He somberly spoke about “the crimes committed by the Israeli entity against innocent civilians in Palestine and its targeting of vital and residential facilities in Gaza, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.” Sleem finally warned against ‘the danger of pushing the Palestinians to leave their land, which will further exacerbate the intensity and expansion of the conflict.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon