BEIRUT: Italian Defense Minister Giampaolo Di Paola confirmed Friday his country’s commitment to the security of Lebanon, saying it was crucial to the stability of the wider region.

“We consider Lebanon an essential element for the stability and security in this area, especially in this moment of complexity in the region,” Di Paola said at a news conference in Beirut Friday evening.

“This visit has been an occasion to demonstrate the Italian commitment to Lebanon, and the Lebanese people, and is a demonstration of the friendship which links Italy to Lebanon,” Di Paola added.

Earlier in the day the minister had met with President Michel Sleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn.

The Italian official, who arrived in Beirut Friday morning, discussed bilateral relations and Italy’s leadership of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon with Sleiman, according to a statement from Baabda Palace.

According to the National News Agency, Di Paola discussed similar issues with Berri. After the meeting, the defense minister said Italy was committed to “peace, democracy and freedom in Lebanon. We will help you, as you are an example of stability and democracy in the region.”

Di Paola will attend the handover of UNIFIL command, from Spain to Italy, in Lebanon Saturday.

Italian Brig. Gen. Paolo Serra will replace Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas as head of the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.

Earlier in January, the Italian defense minister reiterated his country’s commitment to implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which oversees the work of UNIFIL.

Speaking Friday, Di Paola said that the changing of command ceremony was yet another “manifestation of our commitment,” to Lebanon.

“[U.N. Secretary-General] Ban Ki-moon has chosen to put an Italian officer at the head of the UNIFIL mission, a mission which is fundamental to the stability” of the country, Di Paola said.

“Italy is also committed to the mission ... And that commitment will continue, I am sure, as long as necessary.”

Until July of last year, Italy was the single largest contributor of troops to UNIFIL, a position now held by Indonesia. There are currently 1,226 Italian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

Italian senators in July voted to reduce the country’s contribution by more than one-third as part of wider defense cuts. However, the decision came the day after five French troops were wounded in a roadside bomb attack near the southern city of Sidon, which followed a similar attack on an Italian UNIFIL convoy in May, in which five were wounded.

A further attack in December, near Tyre, wounded five French peacekeepers and one Lebanese civilian.

Speaking Friday, Di Paola said that while incidents do occur, “ ... overall, the incidents do not change the situation,” on the ground.

“When you look to the role of UNIFIL, and what they have been able to achieve, together with the Lebanese Army,” the defense minister said, it was hard to deny “the fact, we are contributing to bringing stability ... in a very sensitive area.”

In terms of any potential plans to once again increase the strength of the contingent, Di Paola said that the “Italian contribution is one of the strongest ... I am quite convinced and quite confident about the level of contribution.”

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Staffan de Mistura is accompanying Di Paola on his visit.

“Lebanon is part of the Mediterranean and is a priority country for Italy,” he told reporters, adding that “the stability, unity and integrity of Lebanon are fundamental.”

He also said that “11 months after the outbreak of the crisis in Syria, and except for some small incidents, the crisis has not affected Lebanon.”

Spain’s Adm. Fernando Garcia also arrived in Lebanon Friday, ahead of Saturday’s UNIFIL changeover of command in the south.