Ahead of the European Council meeting, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed the escalating Middle East conflict in the Senate, expressing concern over the situation in Lebanon. She criticized Israeli army attacks on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), calling them “unacceptable” and a violation of UN resolution 1701, despite no reported casualties. Meloni emphasized the need to strengthen UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure the security of Italian soldiers stationed there. She also shared that Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will visit Israel and Palestine, while she plans to visit Lebanon. Italy currently has over 1,000 soldiers in UNIFIL.
Seven newly identified victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide were buried at the Potocari Memorial Cemetery in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 30th anniversary of the massacre. The genocide, recognized by international courts, claimed over 8,300 Muslim lives during the Bosnian War.
The ceremony drew leaders and officials from across the region and Europe, including Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and French and NATO representatives.
Bosnian official Denis Bećirović emphasized the years of propaganda and planning that led to the genocide, while French President Emmanuel Macron warned that denialism has no place in EU-aspiring nations. NATO’s Mark Rutte called it a lasting tragedy linking the Netherlands and Bosnia.
Sirens marked the remembrance across cities, and symbolic tributes—including a silent jump from Mostar Bridge and the release of lilies—honored the victims. The newly buried include victims aged between 17 and 67.
Prev
1 of 4
Next
TR