Italian mission in Libya 'on right road' - UN envoy

Alfano calls for UN leadership, Gentiloni wants 'decisive push'

ANSAmed

8 August 2017

ROME - Ghassan Salame', the United Nations special envoy for Libya, on Tuesday praised the Italian naval mission to support the Libyan coast guard's efforts against human traffickers. "I know there were rows in Libya, but I think that cooperation and transparency between Italy and Libya is the most constructive way (to get results)," Salame' told a press conference with Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano after a meeting in Rome. "We are in the right road in this sector to address a challenge that involves everyone". Alfano, meanwhile, said a single negotiation process on Libya led by the United Nations was necessary as too many talks so far had led to zero final results.

"Negotiation formats in Libya must be reduced to one, the UN needs to take the leadership", Alfano said.

"Up until today there have been too many negotiations, too many negotiators and zero final results.

"Political instability in Libya is not a second-tier match, it is an absolute priority", stressed the minister.

Premier Paolo Gentiloni called on the United Nations to up its efforts to support stability in Libya during his meeting with Salamè, sources said Tuesday. "Italy has been working for Libya's stabilization for some time," Gentiloni said during the meeting at the premier's office in Rome, according to the sources. "I hope that the United Nations will give this process a decisive push". Gentiloni also stressed that strengthening Libya will help solve the Mediterranean migrant crisis.

"Stronger Libyan authorities will make the common effort against traffickers in human beings more effective," he said, according to the sources.

Source: http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2017/08/08/italian-mission-in-libya-on-right-road-un-envoy_940c9afb-5de5-4ccb-ad3c-91bbe5d1b729.html