Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri in Rome, March 15th, 2018

Lebanon's Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, the son of slain former Lebanese PM Rafiq (he died along with 21 other people in a massive suicide attack in Beirut using a van full of 1,800 kg of TNT), was at Rome's Foreign Affairs Ministry for a special conference: "Lebanon, building trust: a viable security for the country and the region".

The EU's Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini

Saad Hariri in Rome

Angelino Alfano (left)

On hand for the international conference were also Italy's Foreign Minister, Angelino Alfano, Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni, Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti and also the U.N.'s Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

Paolo Gentiloni (right)

The UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres next to Italy's defence minister, Roberta Pinotti

India's Ambassador to Italy, Reenat Sandhu, during the press conference in Rome, February 15th, 2018

India’s Ambassador to Italy, Reenat Sandhu, during the press conference in Rome, “There’s Something In The Air”, on the 70 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and India.

Italian Ambassador Angeloni chatting with his Indian counterpart, Sandhu.

On hand during the event was also Italy’s Ambassador to India, Lorenzo Angeloni.  

Italian Prime MInister gives a less-than warm welcome to Turkey's President, February 5th, 2018

Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni gave a less-than warm welcome to Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at Rome's Palazzo Chigi on February 5th, 2018. 

(Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti awaits the arrival of Turkey's president). 

  
(Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano and Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti await the arrival of Turkey's president). 

 
Amid tight security, with more than 3,000 police officers on hand plus overhead helicopters, Erdogan came to Rome for a 24-hour visit to also meet with Pope Francis and Italian President Sergio Mattarella (it seemed that security in Rome was righter than for Donald Trump's visit to Rome lasy year). 

Given the current turmoils in Turkey with imprisoned journalists plus the Kurdish question, not to mention deteriorating relations with both Syria and the U.S., the reception on behalf of Italian officials was somewhat "cold-shouldered", to say the least.