Italian Prime Minister Calls G7 Video Conference to Discuss Middle East Crisis

Chairman Italy Meeting Held
"Goal is Stabilization of Israel and Lebanon Border"

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened a virtual summit of the Group of Seven (G7) on the 2nd (local time) to discuss the escalating Middle East crisis following Iran's airstrikes on Israel.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In a statement from the Prime Minister's Office on the same day, Prime Minister Meloni explained the reason for convening the meeting, saying, "As the chair country of the G7, Italy will continue to strive for a diplomatic solution to the Middle East crisis."

She emphasized, "The goal is to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon border through the full implementation of Resolution 1701."

United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701 was adopted to end the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, stipulating that Israeli forces completely withdraw from Lebanon, and that only the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), excluding Hezbollah, are stationed south of the Litani River in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Meloni stated, "Within this framework, Italy has urged the United Nations Security Council to consider strengthening the UNIFIL mission to ensure the security of the Israel-Lebanon border."