Justice Minister Henry Khoury continues his tour in Italy, meeting with senior officials in the judicial field and human rights organizations. He met yesterday, Wednesday, in Rome with his Italian counterpart Carlo Nordio at the Ministry of Justice. They discussed how to enhance judicial cooperation between the two countries on all levels.
One of the prominent issues addressed by both parties was the Syrian displacement crisis and the state of the judiciary in Lebanon. Khoury informed his counterpart of the Lebanese government's position on the displacement issue, revealing that "they are pouring into Lebanon in large numbers, and in doing so, they are no longer refugees but rather economic migrants." He warned that "this will negatively impact Europe, as it is the true and underlying target for Syrian displaced persons, while Lebanon is merely a stop for them."
Additionally, Khoury revealed to his counterpart the severity and danger of overcrowding in Lebanese prisons caused by the influx of displaced persons, which raises crime rates and the number of prisoners. He pointed out that "the infrastructure of prisons in Lebanon cannot bear the overcrowding resulting from the increase in the number of inmates."
Regarding the judiciary, Khoury described the critical phase the judicial sector is going through, particularly from an economic standpoint. After a detailed explanation of the crises faced by judges in Lebanon, the Italian Justice Minister promised to find a way to assist this vital sector in restoring its regular function through the Foreign Ministry and specific existing programs.
Several administrative topics of mutual interest to both countries were discussed. During his tour, the Justice Minister also met with the Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), Jean Beghin. Later, he met with the President of UNIDROIT, Professor Maria Chiara Malageti, where they discussed legal matters of mutual interest and agreed to enhance judicial cooperation and exchange experiences.
Khoury also met with the President of the Bar Association in Rome, Paolo Niesta, during his tour. The meeting was fruitful, with Niesta expressing hopes for continued communication and collaboration with the Bar Association in Beirut and for the exchange of experiences between the Lebanese and Italian bar associations.
