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Italy stresses importance of Lebanon's stability

Xinhua, June 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Visiting Italian Parliament Speaker Laura Boldrini stressed Monday the importance of Lebanon to remain stable, strong and an example for coexistence in the region.

"Lebanon has an important and strategic role. It is in the best interest of the region for Lebanon to remain stable, strong and an example for coexistence," Boldrini told a joint press conference following talks with her Lebanese counterpart Nabih Berri.

The Italian official hailed Lebanon's capability to host the large influx of Syrian refugees and the presence of around two million refugees.

The United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says Lebanon hosts around 1.1 million Syrian refugees, while the Lebanese government puts the actual number at more than 1.5 million.

In addition, Lebanon hosts about 500,000 Palestinian refugees residing mostly in 12 official camps across the country.

Lebanese officials have voiced their refusal to permanently resettle refugees in the country during meetings with UN envoys and foreign officials.

For his part, Berri said the meeting focused on the refugee crisis, "which poses a risk to Lebanon, the region and Europe, including Italy." Endit