Italian Defense minister set to arrive in Lebanon

By Mahmoud al-Kilani

ROME

Italian Defense Minister Elisabetta Trenta is set to arrive in Beirut on Monday for her first visit to Lebanon since her appointment in June, according to Italian state television.

Trenta’s visit is expected to last for two days, during which she is scheduled to meet with her Lebanese counterpart, Yacoub Sarraf, along with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Meetings are expected to tackle bilateral relations, as well as defense and security cooperation.

On Tuesday, Trenta will take part in a ceremony that will see Italian Army Major-General Stefano Del Col formally assume command of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Comprised of some 10,500 peacekeepers from 40 countries, UNIFIL was first deployed in 1978 to guarantee Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.