Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni, received Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maitig today at the Farnesina.
Concerning the current political situation in Libya, Minister Gentiloni expressed Italy’s hope that Libya’s presidential council and government of national accord will continue growing stronger and that all Libyan parties may unite under the authority of their legitimate institutions, committing themselves to the priority goal of fighting Daesh.
In response to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maitig highlighting the need to manage migration flows from countries south of Libya – Nigeria, Chad and Sudan – Minister Gentiloni confirmed Italy’s availability to cooperate with Mr. Serraj’s government in strengthening border controls.
Regarding support for the training of Libya’s Coast Guard, which President Serraj requested from the EU, Minister Gentiloni pointed out that the Italian government is ready to play a key role: “It is a priority for Italy and Europe that Libya’s Coast Guard be able to patrol effectively the country’s coastline,” the Minister said.
Italy’s top diplomat also remarked that Italy attached great importance to humanitarian aid in Libya, especially in the period leading up to Ramadan, through the delivery of foodstuffs and general-purpose first aid kits in Tripoli and Benghazi and also in the Southern city of Ubari.
Deputy Prime Minister Maitig expressed his great appreciation for the assistance provided in arranging for the hospitalisation in Italy of injured Libyan nationals. It has been a complex logistical operation carried out with the collaboration of the Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Health and the Interior.
Finally Minister Gentiloni informed Deputy Prime Minister Maitig about the themes related to the Libyan crisis which the ambassadors to the UN of US, China, Russia, UK and France discussed yesterday in New York.