Italy Praises Suleiman's Role in Abiding by Dissociation Policy

Italian Defense Minister Mario Mauro lauded on Thursday the role played by President Michel Suleiman to distance Lebanon from the region's crises.

A statement issued by the presidency said Mauro, who visited Suleiman at Baabda palace, praised Suleiman for abiding by the Baabda Declaration, a document adopted by rival Lebanese leaders last year pledging to stick to the dissociation policy.

The discussions between Suleiman and Mauro also focused on the cooperation between the two countries and the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon.

Suleiman thanked Mauro over Italy's contribution of UNIFIL troops and for currently leading the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

The visiting defense minister also met with Premier-designate Tammam Salam and Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji.

His talks with Qahwaji focused on the general situation in Lebanon and the region, and ways to improve military cooperation between the two countries mainly in the fields of training and logistics, said the state-run National News Agency.

Mauro is also scheduled to meet with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn.