Minister Crosetto visits Lebanon

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“Today, the reason for my presence here, among you, shaking hands with each of you,  
is the most genuine will to thank you wholeheartedly that I, the Government and the Italian people want to express for the excellent work you do every day, valiantly and silently. By keeping your position and complying with your mission, a mission for security and peace, you have shown your dedication and professionalism in difficult circumstances, interpreting the highest national values. We can neither accept ultimatums from anyone, nor shy away from the principles that inspire the Armed Forces, that are the basis of your mandate. But we must defend those values, and Italy will continue to do so with determination, seriousness and integrity. Thank you for your incredible work”.

Thus Defence Minister Guido Crosetto during his meeting with the personnel of the Italian Contingent of the UNIFIL mission at Sector West Command in Shama, Lebanon.
The Minister then added:” Working so bravely, with great competence and determination in such a complex scenario, requires a great sense of duty, steady principles and the ability to work as a team. One of the first objectives we had established since we deployed in Lebanon, was to establish a dialogue with the relevant parties to prevent crossing the line of no return. We kept our position steadily and firmly, always, all the times we needed to do so, holding talks when possible and helping the civilian population, who experienced unbelievable sufferings, every time we could. I am aware of the great difference between living day by day, in the field, as you do with bravery and dedication, in a difficult, complex situation like this one, and tackling it while being hundreds of miles away,  where however we are fully aware, and deeply concerned, of what you go through and what you might go through day by day. We have said repeatedly, and I have done so personally, that we “stay awake at night” because of all that, but our concern is only based on the awareness that you must be able to serve in the best and safest possible conditions”.

Previously, Minister Crosetto had met with his Lebanese counterpart Sleem Maurice: “We cannot waste time anymore. UNIFIL, the United Nations mission, is essential for peace and stability in Lebanon, but we must update its rules of engagement and give the mission the same full and concrete freedom to act, in compliance with UNSC Resolution 1701. It will then be more and more important to ensure financial support, training and equipment for the LAFs, the Lebanese Armed Forces. Stability, not only in Lebanon but in the whole region, will be concrete only when the LAFs will be stronger than Hezbollah, and able to defend their country, guaranteeing security and respect of borders. Also greater and close coordination  between the Technical Committee for ceasefire and UNIFIL is indispensable.
We must increase and intensify all international efforts, and Italy will continue to support them strongly, to achieve an effective implementation of the UN Resolution and to stabilize the strip of territory south of the Litani river. I have recalled the letter I and my Spanish colleague, Margarita Robles, have written to urge the UN to take a clear position. Of course I have expressed all the appreciation that I and the Italian people have for the presence and the precious, valiant and silent work of UNIFIL Italian contingent”.
Thus Minister Crosetto on his meeting with his Lebanese counterpart.
In the morning Guido Crosetto had also met with Lebanese Chief of Defence Staff Joseph Aoun.
A cordial, productive meeting in the course of which Minister Crosetto reiterated  “The full support of the Italian Defence for the Lebanese Armed Forces, as we are convinced they are the fundamental pillar on which a solid, effective and durable peace process can and must rest. The Lebanese Armed Forces are today, and will increasingly be in the future, essential to guarantee a strong, authoritative presence south of the Litani River and north of the Blue Line. Their objective, which is the same of the whole international community and for sure of Italy, is to start a concrete, precise peace and stability process in Lebanon and in the Middle East as a whole, and for UNSC Resolution 1701 to be fully implemented”.
“During talks with General Aoun I also underscored –the minister continued- the urgent need to adapt UNIFIL’s rules of engagement , as I have strongly and repeatedly asked the UN over the last 2 years, to allow the military forces of the UIFIL mission full operational freedom, o course within the framework of the implementation of UN Resolution 1701. It is of fundamental importance to guarantee close collaboration not only between the LAfs and UNIFIL, but also between Italy’s Bilateral Mission in Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces. Finally, I received with great satisfaction the gratitude of General Aoun and of the LAFs for the good job done, in particular, by UNIFIL Italian Contingent. Our military have remained operational and vigilant, in their sector of competence, also during the most difficult, not to say actually dramatic times, continuing to do their duty. Also thank to them, their commitment and silent, valiant dedication, a window of opportunity for peace has remained. To them goes my deep gratitude and that of Government, on behalf of the country”.