[ad_1]
Beirut – The President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, expressed Lebanon’s gratitude and appreciation for the support provided by Italy since the 1980s, as an embodiment of the distinguished relations between the two countries, expressing his hope that These relations are strengthened in the coming years, and that Italy contributes, with the international community, to help Lebanon faces the repercussions of the presence of displaced Syrians on its soil, in addition to improving its economy and eliminating the effects of the explosion of the port of Beirut.
The website of the Lebanese Presidency quoted the words of President Aoun during his reception this morning at the Baabda Palace, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who came to Beirut to offer his condolences to the victims of the explosion in the port, and to view relief operations, debris removal and other humanitarian missions carried out by Italian Army units attended by its members. To Beirut especially for this purpose.
At the beginning of the meeting, President Aoun welcomed President Conte and thanked him for his visit, which expresses Italy’s solidarity with Lebanon, and also thanked him for his personal participation in the Paris conference in support of Beirut and the people. Lebanese which was held on August 9, and for sending urgent aid to Lebanon and launching the relief operation “The Rice Emergency”. “Through an air fleet of three aircraft, it specially arrived at the Rafic Hariri International Airport and 4 ships docked at the Port of Beirut.
Italian aid amounted to 20 tons of food and medical supplies, in addition to a rescue team of firefighters and military personnel specialized in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, as well as the establishment of a military field hospital and the donation of ten fire trucks and equipment for 50 firefighters in addition to aid worth 14.5 million euros. And an additional aid of 9 million euros.
President Aoun spoke of the economic and trade cooperation that made Italy a key partner for Lebanon, as well as Italy’s participation in the “Cedar” conference and its commitment of 120 million euros to Lebanon, in addition to the participation of the Italian company (ENI) with the French (Total) and the Russian (Novatek) in Gas Exploration in Blocks 4 and 9.
President Aoun referred to the military cooperation between Lebanon and Italy, and the organization of two conferences in Rome dedicated to supporting the Lebanese army and armed forces, without mentioning the training courses and others. He then addressed the crises that have been pressing on Lebanon, especially the repercussions of the Syrian displacement since 2011, the difficult economic situation and the Crown epidemic, which caused the explosion in the port of Beirut, noting that Lebanon continues to bear the burden. of displaced Syrians has become impossible. Therefore, work must be done to find a solution to this expedient and motivate the displaced to return to their homes, and wished that Italy would contribute with the international community to the development of Lebanon, because it could not rise up without the support of the international community .
