Minister Gentiloni charged Under-Secretary Giro to attend the opening meeting of the African Union international Contact Group for Libya, whose aim is to facilitate the achievement of a political solution to the Libyan crisis.
“Italy is the only European country present at political level at this meeting, which underscores the importance that the Libyan question holds for our foreign policy”, Giro asserted. “My presence at the African Union meeting”, he continued, “is in line with the meeting held today at the Italian Mission to NATO in Brussels, initiated by Minister Gentiloni and in the presence of the U.S. Secretary of State, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations for Political Affairs”.
After expressing the hope that “the imminent resumption of talks will lead to a solution to the political and humanitarian crisis in Libya”, Under-Secretary Giro stated that “the situation has to be confronted rapidly by Libyans with the support of the entire international community, because with the passing of time the situation is likely to deteriorate. As Minister Gentiloni has said, what is needed is an inclusive interim government, and dialogue directed toward a new organisation that holds moderates from the various parties together. Italy sees nothing but a political solution to the crisis, and one that safeguards Libyan unity. All the actors and States must strive to be part of the solution and not of the problem, so it is important that the hostilities cease. The international community needs a single Libya to come back to play its role in the world”, the under-secretary concluded.
