 |
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman opened Monday a mobile maternity hospital, jointly-funded by Israel, in Mirandola, in Emilia-Romagna, a region severely hit by an earthquake in May which killed 26 people and caused widespread damage.
|
|
|
MIRANDOLA (EJP)---Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman opened Monday a mobile maternity hospital, jointly-funded by Israel, in the earthquake hit region of Emilia-Romagna, as he started his three-day-visit to Italy.
Lieberman dedicated four mobile structures in the Northern-Italian city of Mirandola, severely hit by two large scale earthquakes in May which killed 26 people and caused widespread damage.
The regional facility was co-funded by Israel, in conjunction with Jewish Canadian philanthropist Walter Arbib and the United Israel Appeal (UIA).
During a ceremony, Lieberman praised the close ties of friendship between Italy and Israel, characterised by extensive Italian aid to Israel during the Carmel fire of 2011, which Israel reciprocated following the last major earthquakes in Italy in 2008.
Italy has long been regarded as one of Israel’s staunchest supporters. At a meeting in Rome in May, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Israel. “Italy will always be committed to support Israel security and the security and freedom of the Jewish people. We feel a political and moral responsibility,” he said.
He continued to echo the recent comments of many European Jewish community leaders, when he equated anti-Israel sentiment with anti-Semitism:
“When anti-Semitism becomes the flag post of those who call for the destruction of Israel with hatred and arrogance, our response needs to be firm.”
Italy demonstrated its continued allegiance to Israel, when the EU Foreign Ministers issued their controversial conclusions in May, strongly criticising Israel for its ongoing settlement policy.
According to Western diplomat sources, Italian representatives tried to moderate the tone of the statement and to “make sure that certain elements favourable to Israel, such as references to Palestinian incitement and Israel’s security needs, were inserted”.
On Monday, the Israeli Foreign Minister also became the first Israeli statesman to visit San Marino, the world’s oldest republic, where he met with the Captains Regent and the State Secretary for Foreign and Political Affairs Antonella Mularoni.
Following an official meeting attended by members of the San Marino government, Lieberman planted an olive tree in a ceremony presided over by JNF-KKL, as a symbol of continuing bilateral relations between Israel and Italy and said that cooperation between the two countries could be developed in areas as diverse as economic and technological, amongst others.