Mikati Meets Meloni: An Italian Company in the Waters of Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati held official talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni this afternoon at the Italian government headquarters in Rome. The historical relations between Lebanon and Italy were discussed, with Mikati thanking Meloni for Italy's support of Lebanon through the Italian battalion within UNIFIL, and for its assistance to the army and various sectors, including healthcare and sustainable social development. Mikati invited the Italian Prime Minister to visit Lebanon to continue the discussions. For her part, Meloni thanked Mikati for the transparent relations between Italy and Lebanon. She expressed her pleasure that "Eni" is among the companies that will explore for oil in Lebanon and encouraged other Italian companies to invest in Lebanon. She emphasized the need for cooperation to make the Mediterranean region a peaceful area, as well as to curb illegal immigration. The Lebanese delegation included Lebanon's Ambassador to Rome Mira Daher, and advisors Ambassador Botros Assaker and Ziad Mikati. An additional meeting took place between the two countries' prime ministers, which included the Italian side represented by the diplomatic advisor to the Prime Minister, Francesco Mario Talo, and the head of the Prime Minister's office, Patrizia Scortì.