(April 19th, 2016) An official visit to Lebanon for a meeting with the top ranking politicians and militaries of the country. The Chief of Staff of Defence, General Claudio Graziano, met this morning the former President of the Lebanese Republic Michel Suleiman, the Prime Minister Tammam Salam, and Nabih Berri the Speaker of Parliament, with whom he discussed about the situation of Lebanon and of the Middle East. Yesterday General Graziano attended the ceremony for the exchange between the Brigade Taurinense and the Brigade Sassari in command of the Italian contingent operating as part of UNIFIL. After the ceremony he visited the Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Jean Kahwaji. The Meeting was an opportunity to discuss and reflect. During the encounter the Generals spoke about of the excellent collaboration between the Lebanese and Italian militaries in southern Lebanon and about the training activities provided by the Italian to the Lebanese Armed Forces. General Graziano affirmed “ The LAF are facing brilliantly the attempts of terrorist forces to advance in Lebanon, showing great courage, determination and professionalism and working along the borders to avoid terrorist infiltration”. The Amy informs that at the end of the meeting General Graziano awarded General Kahwaji with the title of Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (OMRI). The highest reward granted by the President of the Republic for merit acquired toward the Nation as Public Officers for long and known services during the civil and military careers. (red)
