The main objectives of Prime Minister Mario Monti’s mission to Tripoli on 21 January, accompanied by Ministers for Foreign Affairs and the Defence Giulio Terzi and Giampaolo Di Paola, are to reaffirm and strengthen relations with the new Libya, offer the el-Kib government Italy’s support for the democratic transition and reassert Italy’s role as a long-preferred partner.
Monti’s sights are set on a “Tripoli Declaration” – a sort of policy framework capable of opening new inroads to future operational agreements, first and foremost economic ones, with a mission by Minister for Development Corrado Passera and a business delegation to follow in February; while immigration accords are envisaged with a trip by Interior Minister Annamaria Cancellieri.
In the course of his visit to Tripoli – which will include the restitution to the Libyans of the “Head of Domitilla” statue stolen from Sabrahta in 1990 – Monti will also open the new Italian Consulate. He intends to return to Rome, with his ministers and Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni, with a series of signed agreements: a framework agreement which Minister Di Paola will be discussing tomorrow in the context of Italy’s contribution to stabilising the country on the fronts of security and border controls and that will aim, over the long term, at offering industrial cooperation and assistance in accordance with Libyan needs. Also envisaged are agreements in the sectors of fishing, customs cooperation and energy with Eni.
