Italian PM to Visit Tunisia Next Week, Discuss Illegal Immigration

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (EPA)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (EPA)
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Italian PM to Visit Tunisia Next Week, Discuss Illegal Immigration

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (EPA)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (EPA)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to visit Tunisia next week at the invitation of President Kais Saied.

Political observers believe the visit will address several thorny issues between the two nations, including illegal immigration from the shores of Tunisia towards the Italian coasts.

Tunisian presidency announced that Saied discussed the distinguished bilateral relations and the strategic ties between Tunisia and the European Union over the phone with the Prime Minister.

Observers also expect the visit to address Saied's initiative to hold a high-level conference between all countries affected by the migration issue.

The initiative includes countries in North Africa, the Sahel, the Sahara, and the northern shore of the Mediterranean. It aims to tackle the causes of irregular migration and identify appropriate ways to end the resulting humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar hailed Italy's understanding of the need to support the economic recovery ongoing in his country.

Ammar was speaking Friday night during a ceremony marking Italy's National Day at the residence of Italy's ambassador to Tunis.

The top official also thanked Italy for all its efforts to explain Tunisia's viewpoint to other countries regarding negotiations for a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He described Italy's backing of Tunisia on this point as "intelligent and constructive," saying it is a position that reflects Rome's insistence that the IMF finances the Tunisian economy to avoid collapse.

Last May, Meloni called on the International Monetary Fund during the G7 Summit in Japan to adopt a "pragmatic" approach to disburse financing to Tunisia without preconditions.



UNICEF: More Than 200 Children Killed in Lebanon in Past Two Months

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 30, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 30, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
TT

UNICEF: More Than 200 Children Killed in Lebanon in Past Two Months

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 30, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 30, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

Over 200 children have been killed and 1,100 injured in Lebanon in the past two months, a spokesperson for the U.N. children's agency (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.
"The number of over 200 (children killed) is just in the last two months. It's at least 231 since the start of the war last year," James Elder told a Geneva press briefing in response to a reporter's question about casualties.
He did not comment on who was responsible for the killings, saying that it was clear to anyone who follows the media.