Premier Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday
she should be in Lebanon on Friday.
She did not say for how long.
Previously, in an address to the Senate ahead of the European
Council, Meloni expressed "concern for the ongoing escalation in
Lebanon, because I am seriously worried about the way in which
the scenario is evolving, despite the numerous efforts (made by)
us and our allies".
Meloni said she would travel to Lebanon while Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani will go to Israel and Palestine next week as
Italy seeks to help international efforts to de-escalate the
Middle East crisis.
"It is already planned that I will go to Lebanon, and Minister
Tajani is preparing to go to Israel and Palestine next week",
she said while briefing the Senate on the EU summit in Brussels
from Wednesday to Friday.
"With our presence, too, we are doing everything that is
possible to do".
The premier also spoke about the IDF's attacks on UNIFIL, saying
that, "although no victims or significant damage were
registered", they could not be considered acceptable and this is
"the position Italy has taken with determination at all levels:
we demand that the security of our soldiers is guaranteed" both
within "UNIFIL and the bilateral mission, which together with
the rest of the international community has contributed for
years" to the stability of the border between Israel and
Lebanon..
She stressed that the "attitude of Israeli forces is totally
unjustified and a clear violation of UN resolution 1701", adding
it was necessary to "work for the full implementation of the
resolution, strengthening the full capability of UNIFIL and of
Lebanese armed forces".
Meloni also defended the arms agreements Italy has with Israel,
as it fights Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying the
conditions were stricter than those of other Western countries.
"After the start of operations in Gaza, the government
immediately suspended all new export licences and all agreements
signed after 7 October were not implemented," Meloni told the
Senate as she reported to parliament before this week's EU
summit.
"The licences authorised before are all being analysed on a
case-by-case basis by the competent authority at the foreign
ministry.
"I want to recall that the Italian policy of completely blocking
of all new licences is much more restrictive than that applied
by our partners - France, Germany and United Kingdom.
"These partners continue to use case-by-case assessments,
including for new licences.
"We have blocked everything".
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